THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


BEQUEST  OF 

Alice  R.  Hilgard 


^06cpl)iue  Preston  peaboUp 

(Mrs.  Lionel  Marks) 


THE  PIPER.    i2Tm,$i.ione/.    Postage  exti a. 

THE  BOOK  OF  THE  LITTLE  PAST.  Illus- 
trated in  color.    8vo,  $1.50. 

THE  SINGING  LEAVES.  i8mo,  Jr.oo,  n^i. 
Postpaid,  Si. 05. 

MARLOWE:  A  DRAMA.  izmo,  $1.10,  net. 
Postpaid,  fug. 

FORTUNE  AND  MEN'S   EYES.    i2mo,?i.2S. 

OLD  GREEK  FOLK  STORIES.  In  Riv. 
erside  Literature  Series.  Paper,  15  cents, 
net;  linen,  25  cents,  net.     Postpaid. 

HOUGHTON  MIFFLIN  COMPANY 
Boston  and  New  York 


THE   PIPER 


TOSEPHINE  PRESTON  PEABODY 


The  Piper 


A  Play  in  Four  Acts 


By  Josephine  Preston  ^eabody 


BOSTON  and  NEW  YORK 
Houghton  Mifflin  Company 

I  9  I  I 


COPYRIGHT,    1909,   BY  JOSEPHINE   PEABODY  MARKS 
ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED 

Published  November  iqog 


NINTH   IMPRESSION 

^o  ^.  J.  i^ 


GIFT 


9(p0 

P 


TO 

LIONEL  S.  MARKS 


ivi878984 


^nno  1284 
^m  SDage  ^Fol^anui^  tt  ^mli 
Wax  tier  20  Sunii 
Wotd)  cinni  ^iptt  mit  allcrlcp  fat^t 

hchlchtt 
<OetDc^cn  €f  f  f  Mnhct  bcrlcbet 
23mncti  l^amelcn  gcborcn 
€o  €alijarie  fit  ticn  Jjopjjcn  berJorcn 

[THE  HAMELIN  INSCRIPTION] 


CHARACTERS 


The  Piper 

MicHAEL-THE-S  word-Eater 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Jacobus  the  Burgomeister 

Kurt  the  Syndic 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Axel  the  Smith 

Martin  the  Watch 

Peter  the  Sacristan 

Anselm,  a  young  priest 

Old  Claus,  a  miser 

Town  Crier 

Jan         ^ 

Hansel 

Ilse 

Trude 

RUDI 


Strolling  Players 


Men  of  Hamelin 


Children 


Characters 

Veronika,  the  wife  of  Kurt 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Jacobus 
Wife  of  Hans  the  Butcher 
Wife  of  Axel  the  Smith 
Wife  of  Martin  the  Watch 
Old  Ursula 

Burghers^  nuns^  priests^  and  children 

Scene  :  Hamelin  on  the  Weser,  1284  a.  d. 


SCENES 

ACT  I.  The  market-place  in  Hamelin 

Scene  I.      Inside  the  '■Hollow- Hill' 


ACT  II. 

Scene  II.  The  Cross-ways 

ACT  III.  The  Cross-ways 

ACT  IV.  The  market-place  in  Hamelin 


One  week  is  supposed  to  elapse  between  Acts  I  and  11. 

Jets  II  and  III  occupy  one  day. 

Jet  IV  concerns  the  following  morning. 


Act  I 


The  Piper 


Act  I 


Scene  :  The  market-place  of  Hamelin.  Rights  the 
Minster  J  with  an  open  shrine  [right  centre) 
containing  a  large  sculptured  figure  of  the 
Christ.  Righty  farther  front,  the  house 
of  Kurt  ;  and  other  narrow  house-fronts. 
Left,  the  Rathaus,  and  {down)  the  home  of 
Jacobus.  Front,  to  left  and  right,  are  cor- 
ner-houses with  projecting  stories  and  case- 
ment windows.  At  the  centre  rear,  a  narrow 
street  leads  away  between  houses  whose 
gables  all  but  meet  overhead. 

It  is  late  summer  afternoon,  with  a  holiday  crowd. 
In  the  open  casements,  front  {right  and  left, 
opposite  each  other),  sit  Old  Ursula  and 
Old  Claus,  looking  on  at  men  and  things. 
—  In  the  centre  of  the  place  now  stands  a 


4  ThePiper 

rude  wooden  Ark  with  a  tented  top :  and 
out  of  the  openings  {right  and  left)  appear 
the  artificial  heads  of  animals,  worn  by  the 
players  inside.  One  is  a  Bear  {inhabited  by 
Michael -THE -Sword -Eater);  one  is  a 
large  Reynard-t he-Fox,  later  apparent  as  the 
Piper.  Close  by  is  the  medieval  piece  of 
stage-property  known  as  ^  Hell-Mouth^  i.  e. 
a  red  painted  cave  with  a  jaw-like  openings 
into  which  a  mountebank  dressed  in  scarlet 
(Cheat-the-Devil)  is  poking  '■Lost  Souls* 
with  a  pitchfork. 

Barbara  loiters  by  the  tent.  Veronika,  the  sad 
young  wife  of  KuKT,  watches  from  the  house 
steps,  left,  keeping  her  little  lame  boy,  Jan, 
close  beside  her. 

Shouts  of  delight  greet  the  end  of  the  show,  — 
a  Noah's  Ark  miracle-play  of  the  rudest; 
and  the  Children  continue  to  scream  with  joy 
whenever  an  Animal  looks  out  of  the  Ark. 

Men  and  women  pay  scant  attention  either  to 
Jacobus,  when  he  speaks  {himself  none  too 
sober)  —  from  his  doorstep,  prompted  by 
the  frowning  Kurt,  —  or  yet  to  Anselm, 
the  priest,  who  stands  forth  with  lifted  hands  y 
at  the  close  of  the  miracle-play. 


The    Piper 


Anselm 

ND  you,  who  heed  the  colors  of  this 

show, 
Look  to  your  laughter  ! —  It  doth 

body  forth 
A   Judgment   that    may  take    you 
unaware,  — 
Sun-struck  with    mirth,   like  unto    chattering 

leaves 
Some  wind  of  wrath  shall  scourge  to  nothing- 
ness. 


Hans,  Axel,  and  Others 
Hurrah,  Hurrah  ! 

Jacobus 

And  now,  good  townsmen  all, 
Seeing  we  stand  delivered  and  secure 
As  once  yon  chosen  creatures  of  the  Ark, 
For  a  similitude,  —  our  famine  gone. 
Our  plague  of  rats  and  mice,  — 


Crowd 


Hurrah — hurrah! 


6  ThePiper 

Jacobus 
*T  is  meet  we  render  thanks  more  soberly  — 

Hans  the  Butcher 
Soberly,  soberly,  ay  !  — 

Jacobus 

For  our  deliverancec 
And  now,  ye  wit,  it  will  be  full  three  days 
Since  we  beheld  —  our  late  departed  pest.  — 

Old  Ursula 
\putting  out  an  ear-trumpet'\ 

What  does  he  say  ? 

Reynard 
\^frQm  the  ArK\ 

—  Oh,  how  felicitous! 

Hans*  Wife 
He  *s  only  saying  there  be  no  more  rats. 


The    Piper  7 

Jacobus 
[with  oratorical  endeavor"] 

Three  days  it  is;  and  not  one  mouse, — one 

mouse, 
One  mouse,  I  say!  —  No-o-o  !    Quiet  ...  as 

a  mouse. 

[Resuming] 
And  now  .  .  . 

Crowd 

Long  live  Jacobus  !  — 


Jacobus 

You  have  seen 
Noah  and  the  Ark,  most  aptly  happening  by 
With  these  same  play-folk.  You  have  marked 

the  Judgment. 
You    all  have  seen  the    lost    souls   sent  to  — 

Hell  — 
And,  nothing  more  to  do. — 

[Kurt  prompts  him] 

Yes,  yes.  —  And  now  .  .  . 
[Hans  the  Butcher  steps  out  of  his  group.] 


8  ThePiper 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Hath  no  man  seen  the  Piper?  —  Please  your 
worships. 

Others 
Ay,  ay,  so ! 

—  Ay,  where  is  he? 

—  Ho,  the  Piper! 

Jacobus 

Piper,  my  good  man? 

Hans  the  Butcher 

—  He  that  charmed  the  rats  ! 

Others 
Yes,  yes, — that  charmed  the  rats! 

Jacobus 

\_'piously\ 

Why,  no  man  knows. — 
Which  proves  him  such  a  random  instrument 
As  Heaven  doth  sometimes  send  us,  to  our  use; 
Or,  as  I  do  conceive,  no  man  at  all,  — 
A  man  of  air;  or,  I  would  say- — delusion. 
He  '11  come  no  more. 


ThePiper  9 

Reynard 

\^from  the  Jrk] 

Eh? — Oh,  indeed,  Meaow  ! 

Jacobus 

'Tis  clearest  providence.  The  rats  are  gone. 
The  man  is  gone.     And  there  is   nought  to 

Save  peaceful  worship. 

[Pointing  to  the  Minster^ 

Reynard 

[sarcastically^ 

Oh,  indeed, —  Meaow! 
[Sudden  chorus  of  derisive  animal  noises  from 
the  Arky  delighting  People  and  Chil- 
dren. 

Kurt 

Silence,  —  you  strollers  there!  Orl  will  have  you 
Gaoled,  one  and  all. 

People 
No,  Kurt  the  Syndic,  no! 


lo  The    Piper 

Barbara 

\_to  Jacobus'\ 

No,  no!  Ah,  father,  bid  them  stay  awhile 
And  play  it  all  again.  —  Or,  if  not  all, 
Do  let  us  see  that  same  good  youth  again. 
Who    swallowed    swords  —  between    the    Ark 

Preserved 
And  the  Last  Judgment ! 

Reynard 

Michael-the-Sword-Eater, 
Laurels  for  thee  ! 

\T^he  Bear  disappears:  Michael  puis  out 
his  own  head^  and  gazes  fixedly  at  Bar- 
bara. 

Children 

Oh,  can't  we  see  the  animals  in  the  Ark? 
Again  ?  Oh,  can't  we  see  it  all  again  ? 

Ilse 

Oh,  leave  out  Noah  !  And  let 's  have  only  Bears 
And  Dromedaries,  and  the  other  ones !  — 
[General  confusion."] 


The    Piper  ii 

Kurt 
Silence ! 

Jacobus 

Good  people  —  you  have  had  your  shows; 
And  it  is  meet,  that  having  held  due  feast, 
Both  with  our  market  and  this  Miracle, 
We  bring  our  holiday  to  close  with  prayer 
And  public  thanks  unto  Saint  Willibald, — 
Upon  whose  day  the  rats  departed  thence. 

Reynard 

[loudly] 

Saint  WiUibald ! 

Bear 
—  Saint  Willibald ! 

Other  Animals 

[looking  out~\ 

r Saint  Willibald! 
I  Saint!  Oh! 

Crowd 

Saint  Willibald  !  —  And  what  had  he  to  do 
With  ridding  us  o'  rats  ? 


12  The    Piper 

Hans  the  Butcher 

'T  was  the  Piping  Man 
Who    came   and    stood    here    in    the   market- 
place, 
And  swore  to  do  it  for  one  thousand  guilders ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Ay,  and  he  did  it,  too  !  —  Saint  Willibald  ! 
\Renewed  uproar  round  the  tent.~\ 

Kurt 

\jo  Jacobus^ 

Drive  out  those  mountebanks  !  'T  is  ever  so. 

Admit  them  to  the  town  and  you  must  pay 

Their  single  show  with  riotings  a  week. — 

Look  yonder  at  your  daughter. 

[Barbara  lingers  by  the  Ark-'Tent,  S'^^^^S 
with  girlish  interest  at  Michael,  who 
gazes  at  her.,  his  bear-head  in  his  hand  for 
the  moment^ 

Jacobus 

Barbara ! 
\She  turns  backy  with  an  angry  glance  at 
Kurt.] 


The    Piper'  13 

Axel  the  Smith 

\_doggedly  to  them~\ 

By  your  leave,  Masters!   I  would  like  to  know, 
How    did    Saint    Willibald    prevail    with    the 

rats?  — 
That  would  I  like  to  know.   I,  who  ha'  made 
Of  strong  wrought  traps,  two  hundred,  thirty- 
nine, 
Two  hundred,  thirty-nine. 

Reynard 

[calling] 

And  so  would  I! 


Hans  the  Butcher 

So  please  your  worships,   may  it  please    the 

Crier, 
Now  we  be  here,  —  to  cry  the  Piping  Man  — ■ 


Peter  the  Cobbler 

A  stranger-man,  gay-clad,  —  in  divers  colors  ! 
Because  he,  with  said  piping  — 


i^  ThePiper 

Hans  the  Butcher 

—  Drave  away 

The  horde  of  rats  ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
\_sagely\ 

To  our  great  benefit ; 
And  we  be  all  just  men. 

Others 

Ay,  ay  !  —  Amen  ! 

Women 
Amen,  Our  Lady  and  the  blessed  Saints! 

Jacobus 

Why,  faith,  good  souls,  if  ye  will   have  him 

cried. 
So    be   it.  —  But     the    ways    of   Heaven    are 

strange  ! 
Mark  how  our  angel  of  deliverance  came, — 
Or  it  may  be.  Saint  Willibald  himself,  — 
Most  piedly  clothed,  even  as  the  vilest  player!  — 
And  straight  ascended  from  us,  to  the  clouds ! 


The    Piper  15 

But  cry    him,    if  you    will.  —  Peace  to    your 

lungs  !  — 
He  will  not  come. 

[Kurt  wrathfully  consults  with  Jacobus, 

then  signals  to  Crier, 

Crier 

Oyez !   Oyez  1  Oyez  ! 

Whereas,  now  three  days  gone,  our  Plague  of 

Rats 
Was  wholly  driven  hence,  our  City  cleansed, 
Our  peace  restored  after  sore  threat  of  famine, 
By  a  Strange  Man  who  came  not  back  again, 
Now,  therefore,  if  this  Man  have  ears  to  hear, 
Let  him  stand  forth.  —  Oyez  !   Oyez  !   Oyez  ! 
\ftrumpet.  —  People   gaze  up  and  down 
the  little  streets.  —  Reynard  steps  out  of 
the  Ark  and  comes  down  slowly.,  with  a 
modest  air.  —  Kurt/)o/«/j"  him  out^  threat- 
eningly,  and  the  Crowd  bursts  into  deri- 
sive laughter.  —  He  doffs  his  animal-head 
at  leisure^  showing  a  sparkling  dark-eyed 
face. 

All 
The  Man  !  the  Man  ! 


i6  ThePiper 

Kurt  and  Jacobus 
The  Devil !  —  'T  is  — 

All 

—  The  Piper  ! 
[The  Piper  regards  them  all  with  debonair 
satisfaction;  then  reverses  his  head-piece 
and  holds  it  out  upside-down,  with  a  con- 
fident smile. 

Piper 

Three  days  of  rest,  your  worships,  you  have  had. 
I  see  no  signs  of  famine  hereabout. 
The  rats  are  gone,  even  to  the  nethermost  tail : 
And  I  've  fulfilled  my  bargain.  Is  it  granted  ? 
[Murmurs,     then     cheers     of    "  Ay,    Ay, 

Piper  !  ''from  the  crowd. 
Thank  'ee.  —  My  thousand   guilders,  an  you 

please. 

Jacobus 

One  thou —  Come,  come  1    This  was  no  sober 

bargain.  — 
No  man  in  reason  could  — 

Piper 

One  thousand  guilders. 


ThePiper  17 

Kurt 
One  thousand  rogueries  ! 

Jacobus 
\jo  Piper] 

You  jest  too  far. 

Axel 

Lucky,  if  he  get  aught !  —  Two  hundred  traps. 
And  nine,  and  thirty  !  By  Saint  Willibald, 
When  was  I  paid  ? 

Axel's  Wife 
Say,  now ! 

Piper 
.  .  .  One  thousand  guilders, 

Peter  f^e  Cobbler 
Give  him  an  hundred. 

Hans  the  Butcher 
Double ! 


i8  The    Piper 

Hans'  Wife 

You  were  fools 
To  make  agreement  with  him.  —  Ask  old  Claus. 
He  has  the  guilders  ;  and  his  house  was  full 
O'  rats  ! 

Old  Claus 
[shaking  his  stick  from  the  window"] 

You  jade  !  And  I  that  hoard,  and  save. 
And  lay  by  all  I  have  from  year  to  year, 
To  build  my  monument  when  I  am  gone, 
A  fine  new  tomb  there,  in  Saint  Boniface ! 
And  I  to  pay  for  all  your  city  rats  ! 

Old  Ursula 
[leaning  outy  opposite] 

Right,  neighbor,  right  well  said  !  —  Piper,  hark 

here. 
Piper,  how  did  ye  charm  the  rats  away? 

Piper 

[coming  down] 

The  rats  were  led  —  by  Cu-ri-os-ity. 

'T  is  so  with  many  rats  ;  and  all  old  women;  — 

Saving  your  health  ! 


ThePiper  19 

Jacobus 

No  thought  for  public  weal, 
In  this  base  grasping  on  — 

Piper 

One  thousand  guilders. 


For  piping 


Kurt 
[contemptuously] 

Piper 

Shall  I  pipe  them  back  again  ? 

Women 

f  Good  Saint  Boniface  ! 
Merciful  heaven !  \  Good  Saint  Willibald ! 

L  Peter  and  Paul  defend  us ! 

Hans  the  Butcher 

No,  no  ;  no  fear  o'  that.  The  rats  be  drowned. 
"We  saw  them  with  our  eyes. 

Piper 

Now  who  shall  say 
There  is  no  resurrection  for  a  mouse  ? 


20  ThePiper 

Kurt 
—  Do  you  but  crop  this  fellow's  ears  !  — 


Veronika 

\_from  the  steps] 


Ah,  Kurt ! 


Jacobus 
[/o  bim,  blandly] 

Deal  patiently,  good  neighbor.  All  is  well. 

[fTo  the  Piper] 
Why  do  you  name  a  price  so  laughable. 
My  man  ?    Call  you   to  mind ;  you  have  no 

claim,  — 
No  scrip  to  show.  You  cling  upon  — 


Piper 

\jternly~\ 

Jacobus 
I  would  say — just  — 

Piper 
Your  word. 


Your  word. 


The    Piper  2I 

•    Jacobus 

Upon  — 

Piper 

Your  word. 
Sure,  't  was  a  rotten  parchment ! 

Jacobus 

This  is  a  base, 
Conniving  miser ! 

Piper 
[jurning  proudly] 

Stand  forth,  Cheat-the-Devil ! 
[Up  steps  the  Devil  in  red.  People  shrink, 
and  then  come  closer. 
Be  not  afeard.  He  pleased  you  all,  of  late. 
He  hath  no  sting.  —  So,  boy  !  Do  off  thy  head.  — 
[Cheat-the-Devil    doffs    his    red    head- 
dress and  stands  forth ^  a  pale  and  timo^ 
rous  youth ^  gentle  and  half-witted. 
Michael,  stand  forth  ! 

[Michael  comes  down,  bear-head  in  hand. 

Barbara 
[regarding  him  sadly] 

That  goodly  sword-eater ! 


22  The    Piper 

Piper 

^defiantly] 

So,  Michael,  so.  —  These  be  two  friends  of  mine. 
Pay  now  an  even  third  to  each  of  us. 
Or,  to  content  your  doubts,  to  each  of  these 
Do   you    pay    here    and    now,    five    hundred 

guilders. 
"Who  gets  it  matters  little,  for  us  friends. 
But  you  will   pay   the  sum,  friend.  You  will 

pay  !  — 

Hans,  Axel,  and  Crowd 

Come,  there's  an  honest  fellow.  Ay,  now,  pay  ! 

—  There 's  a  good  friend.  —  And  would  I  had 

the  same. 

—  One  thousand  guilders? 

—  No,  too  much. 

—  No,  no. 
Kurt 

Pay  jugglers  ?  —  With  a  rope  apiece  ! 

Jacobus 

Why — so  — 

Piper 

They  are  my  friends;  and  they  shall  share  with 
me. 


The    Piper  23 

*T  is  time  that  Hamelin  reckoned  us  for  men; 
—  Hath  ever  dealt  with  us  as  we  were  vermin. 
Now  have  I  rid  you  of  the  other  sort — 
Right  you  that  score !  — 

Kurt 

These  outcasts ! 

Piper 

[hotly~\ 

Say  you  so  ? 
Michael,  my  man  !  Which  of  you  here  will  try 
With  glass  or  fire,  with  him? 

Michael 

\jullenly'\ 

No,  no  more  glass,  to-day! 

Piper 

Then  fire  and  sword ! 

\_They  back  away."] 

So!  —  And  there's  not  one  man 
In  Hamelin,  here,  so  honest  of  his  word. 
Stroller  !  A  pretty  choice  you  leave  us.  —  Quit 
This  strolling  life,  or  stroll  into  a  cage  ! 


24  ThePiper 

What  do  you  offer  him  ?  A  man  eats  fire  — 
Swords,  glass,  young  April  frogs  — 

Children 

Do  it  again  ! 
Do  it  again  ! 

Piper 

You  say  to  such  a  man,  — 
*  Come  be  a  monk  !    A  weaver  ! '  Pretty  choice. 
Here  's  Cheat-the-Devil,  now. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

But  what's  his  name? 

Piper 

He  does  n*t  know.  What  would  you  ?  Nor  do  I. 
But  for  the  something  he  has  seen  of  life, 
Making    men    merry,    he  'd    know   something 

more  ! 
The  gentlest  devil  ever  spiked  Lost  Souls 
Into  Hell-mouth,  —  for  nothing-by-the-day ! 

Old  Ursula 

\with  her  ear-trumpet\ 

Piper,  why  do  you  call  him  Cheat-the-Devil  ? 


The    Piper  25 

Piper 

Because  his  deviltry  is  all  a  cheat :  — 
He  is  no  devil, —  but  a  gentle  heart ! 
—  Friend  Michael  here  hath  played  the  Devil, 

betimes, 
Because  he  can  so  bravely  breathe  out  fire. 
He    plied    the    pitchfork    so    we    yelped    for 

mercy, — 
He  reckoned  not  the  stoutness  of  his  arm  !  — 
But  Cheat-the-Devil  here,  —  he  would  not  hurt 
Why  —  Kurt   the  Syndic  —  thrusting  him  in 

hell.  \Laughter. 

Cheat-the-Devil 

\unhappily~\ 
No,  no  —  I  will  not  hurt  him  1 

Piper 

[soothingly  to  him] 

Merry,  boy ! 

[To  the  townsfolk'] 
And,  —  if  ye  will  have  reasons,  good, — ye  see,  — 
1  want — one  thousand  guilders. 

Jacobus 

In  all  surety, 
Payment  you'll  have,  my  man,  But  — 


26  ThePiper 

Hans  the  Butcher 

As  to  's  friends, — 
An  that  yon  Devil  be  as  feat  wi'  his  hands 
As  he  be  slow  o'  tongue,  why,  I  will  take  him 
For  prentice.   Wife,  —  now  that  would  smack 
o'  pride ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

I  '11  take  this  fellow  that  can  swallow  fire. 
He  's  somewhat  old  for  me.   But  he  can  learn 
My  trade.  —  A  pretty  fellow  ! 

Piper 

And  your  trade  ? 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
Peter  the  cobbler.  — 

Michael 

I  ?  What,  I  ?  Make  shoes  ? 
\Proudly\ 


I  swallow  fire. 


Piper 
Enough. 


i 

ThePiper  27 

Barbara 

[aside,  bitterly~\ 

I  '11  not  believe  it. 

Piper 
\jo  Hans] 
Your  trade  ? 

Hans  the  Butcher 
I'm  Hans  the  Butcher. 

Michael 

Butcher  ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

\unhappily~\ 

Butcher ! 
Oh,  no  !  I  could  n't  hurt  them. 

\_Loud  laughter. 

Butcher's  Wife 

'T  is  a  fool ! 

\The  Piper  motions  to  Michael  ^^WCheat- 

the-Devil,  who  during  the  following  join 

the   other  player-folk,   strike    their   tenty 

pack  their  bundles,  and  wheel  off  the  bar- 


28  ThePiper 

rows  that  have  served  them  for  an  Ark, 
leaving  the  space  clear  before  the  Shrine. 
Exeunt  Strollers,  all  but  Michael,  who 
hangs  about,  still  gazing  at  Barbara. 

Jacobus 

Good  people,  we  have  wasted  time  enow. 
You  see  this  fellow,  that  he  has  no  writ  — 

Piper 

Why   not,  then?    'T  was   a  bargain.    If  your 

word 
Hold  only  when  't  is  writ  — 

Kurt 

We  cannot  spend 
Clerkship  on  them  that  neither  write  nor  read. 
What  good  would  parchment  do  thee  ? 

Jacobus 

My  good  man  — 

Piper 
Who  says  I  cannot  read  ?  —  Who  says  I  cannot  ? 

Old  Claus 
Piper,  don't  tell  me  you  can  read  in  books ! 


ThePiper  29 

Piper 

Books  !  Where  's  a  book  ?  Shew  me  a  book, 
I  say  ! 

Old  Ursula 

The  Holy  Book  !  Bring  that  —  or  he  '11  bewitch 
you. 

Piper 

Oh,   never  fear.    I   charm  but  fools  and  chil- 
dren ; 

Now  that  the  rats  are  gone.  —  Bring  me  a  Book : 

A  big  one  !  — 

[Murmurs.  The  Piper  defiant.  The  crowd 
moves  towards  the  Minster.  Enter  An- 
SELM  the  priest,  with  a  little  acolyte,  — 
the  two  bearing  a  large  illuminated  Gospel- 
book.  Anselm,  eyeing  the  Piper  gravely^ 
opens  the  book,  which  the  boy  supports  on 
his  head  and  shoulders. 

Piper 

Ho,  't  is  too  heavy !   Come,  you  cherub-head. 
Here  's  too  much  laid  upon  one  guardian  angel ! 


3©  ThePiper 

[Beckons  another  small  hoy^  and  sets  the  book 
on  their  two  backs. 
Well?  — well?  What  now? 

\He  laoks  in  frank  bewilderment  at  the  eager 
crowd. 

Crowd 

Read,  read ! 

Kurt 

He  cannot  read. 

Piper 

\to  Anselm] 

Turn  —  turn  —  there  's  nothing  there. 
[Anselm  turns  pages.   Piper  looks  on  blankly\ 

.  .  .  Ah,  turn  again ! 
The  red  one  !  — 

\_He  takes  his  pipe  from  his  belt~\ 

No,  the  green  !   The  green  one.   So. 
[Starts  to  pipCy  looking  on  the  book.'] 

Crowd 

Sure  't  is  a  mad-man  ! 
But  hear  him  piping ! 
.  What  is  he  doing? 


The    Piper  31 

Piper 

\_  puzzled  at  their  mirth'] 

What  the  green  one  says.  — 

\A  burst  of  laughter  from  the  crowd.  Jan, 

the  little  lame  boy  on  the  steps,  reaches  his 

arms  out  suddenly  and  gives  a  cry  of  delight. 

Jan 

Oh,  I  love  the  Man  ! 

\_He  goes,  with  his  crutch,  to  the  Piper,  who 
turns  and  gathers  him  close. 

Jacobus 
\_to  the  People'] 

Leave  off  this  argument. 

Kurt 

Go  in  to  Mass. 

Jacobus 
Saint  Willibald! 

Piper 

[in  a  rage] 

That  Saint !  — 


32  The    Piper 

Kurt 

Hence,  wandering  dog ! 

Piper 

Oho  ! — Well,  every  Saint  may  have  his  day. 

But   there   are   dog-days   coming.  —  Eh,  your 
worship  ? 

[To  Anselm,  suddenly] 

You,  there!    You — Brother — Father  —  Un- 
cle—  You  ! 

Speak !    Will   you  let    them   in,   to   say   their 
prayers 

And  mock  me  through  their  fingers?  —  Tell 
these  men 

To  settle  it,  among  their  mouldy  pockets. 

Whether  they  keep  their  oath.  Then  will  I  go. 

Kurt 

[savagely] 
Away  with  you  !  — 

Anselm 

The  Piper  should  be  heard ; 
Ye  know  it  well.  Render  to  Caesar,  therefore. 
That  which  is  Caesar's. 


ThePiper  33 

Piper 
—  Give  the  Devil  his  due ! 

Jacobus 

[warilyl 

We  must  take  counsel  over  such  a  sum. 

[^Beckoning  others,  he  and  Kurt  go  into  the 
Rathaus,  followed  by  all  the  men.  Exit 
Anselm  with  the  Holy  Book  into  the  Min- 
ster. —  "The  children  play  Mouse,  to  and 
fro,  round  about  the  Piper.  —  T^'he  women, 
some  of  them,  spin  on  the  doorsteps,  with 
little  hand  distaffs,  or  stand  about,  gossip- 
ing. 

[jThe  Piper  wipes  his  forehead  and  goes  up 
slowly  {centre)  to  drink  from  the  fountain 
at  the  foot  of  the  Shrine.  —  Michael,  like 
one  in  a  dream,  comes  down  towards  Bar- 
bara, who  gazes  back  at  him,  fascinated, 
through  her  laughter. 

Barbara 

Is  it  for  pay  you  loiter.  Master  Player? 
Were  you  not  paid  enough? 


34  The    Piper 

Michael 

No. —  One  more  look. 

Barbara 
Here,  then. —  Still  not  enough? 

Michael 

No  !  One  more  smile. 

Barbara 
[agitated  ] 

Why  would  you  have  me  smile  ? 

Michael 

\_passionately~\ 

Oh,  when  you  smiled, 
It  was — it  was  like  sunlight  coming  through 
Some  window  there, 

\_Pointing  to  the  Minster] 

—  some  vision  of  Our  Lady. 
\_She  drops  her  flowers.  —  He  picks  them  up 
and  gives  them  back  slowly. 

Barbara 

Who  are  you  ?  You  are  some  one  in  disguise. 


The    Piper  35 

Michael 

\bitterly\ 

A  man — that  passes  for  a  mountebank. 

Barbara 

\_eagerly~\ 

I  knew  ! 

Michael 

What  then  ? 

Barbara 

Thou  art  of  noble  birth. 
*T  is  some  disguise,  this  playing  with  the  fire ! 

Michael 

Yes.  —  For  to-day,  I  lord  it  with  the  fire. 
But  it  hath  burned  me,  here. 

\_Touching  his  breast^ 
\Overcomefor  the  moment^  she  draws  away. — 
The  Piper,  coming  down,  speaks  stealth- 
ily to  Michael,  who  is  still  gazing. 

Piper 

For  all  our  sakes! 
There  is  bad  weather  breeding. — Take  to  thy 
heels. 


36  ThePiper 

[Barbara  turns  back  to  see  Michael 
withdrawing  reluctantly,  and  throws  a 
rose  to  him  with  sudden  gayety. 

Barbara 
Farewell  to  you,  Sword-Swallower  !  —  farewell  I 

Michael 

\looking  hacK\ 
Farewell  to  you,  my  Lady,  in-the-Moon. 

\_Exit. 
[Jan  clings  once  more  to  the  Piper,  while 
the  other  children  hang  about.  Veronika 
calls  to  her  boy ^  from  the  steps. 


Darling. 


Veronika 

Piper 

\drawing  nearer"] 

Is  this  your  Boy  ? 

Veronika 

Ay,  he  is  mine ; 
My  only  one.  He  loved  thy  piping  so. 


The    Piper  37 

Piper 
And  I  loved  his. 

Hans'  Wife 

[sfrUen^/y'\ 

Poor  little  boy  !  He  's  lame! 

Piper 

'Tis  all  of  us  are  lame  !   But  he,  he  flies. 

Veronika 

Jan,  stay  here  if  you  will,  and  hear  the  pipe, 
At  Church-time. 

Piper 
[/o  him~\ 

Wilt  thou  ? 
Jan 

Mother  lets  me  stay 
Here  with  the  Lonely  Man. 

Piper 

The  Lonely  Man  ? 


38  The    Piper 

[Jan  points  to  the  Christ  in  the  Shrine.  Ve- 
RONiKA  crosses  herself.  The  Piper  looks 
long  at  the  little  boy. 

Veronika 
He  always  calls  Him  so. 

Piper 

And  so  would  I. 

Veronika 

It  grieves  him  that  the  Head  is  always  bowed, 
And  stricken.   But  he  loves  more  to  be  here 
Than  yonder  in  the  church. 

Piper 

And  so  do  I. 

Veronika 

What  would   you,   darling,   with    the   Lonely 

Man? 
What  do  you  wait  to  see  ? 

Jan 

[shylyl 

To  see  Him  smile. 


ThePiper  39 

[The  women  murmur.  The  Pipek comes iiown 
further  to  speak  to  Veronika. 

Piper 

You  are  some  foreign  woman.  Are  you  not  ? 
Never  from  Hamelin  ! 

Veronika 

No. 

Axel's  Wife 
\to  her  chil<r\ 

Then  run  along. 
And  ask  the  Piper  if  he  '11  play  again 
The  tune  that  charmed  the  rats. 

Another 

They  might  come  back  1 

Old  Ursula 
\c ailing  from  her  window] 

Piper  !   I  want  the  tune  that  charmed  the  rats  ! 
If  they  come  back,  1  '11  have  my  grandson  play 
it. 


40  ThePiper 

Piper 
I  pipe  but  for  the  children. 

Ilse 
[dropping  her  doll  and  picking  it  up"] 

Oh,  do  pipe 
Something  for  Fridolin  ! 

Hansel 

Oh,  pipe  at  me  ! 
Nowl 'mamouse!   I '11  eat  you  up  !    Rr — rr  !  — 

Children 

Oh,  pipe  !   Oh,  play  !  Oh,  play  and  make  us 

dance  ! 
Oh,  play,  and  make  us  run  away  from  school ! 

Piper 
Why,  what  are  these  ? 

Children 

\jcampering  round  him'\ 

We  're  mice,  we  *re  mice,  we  're  mice  !  .  .  . 
We  're  mice,  we  're  mice  !  We  '11  eat  up  every- 
thing ! 


The    Piper  41 

Martin's  Wife 
\_calling\ 

'T  is  church-time.  La,  what  will  the  neighbors 

say  ? 

Ilse 

\JVaving  her  doW] 

Oh,  please  do  play  something  for  Fridolin ! 

Axel's  Wife 
Do  hear  the  child.  She  's  quite  the  little  mother  ! 

Piper 

A  little  mother  ?  Ugh!   How  horrible. 

That  fairy  thing,  that  princess,  —  no,  that  Child! 

A  little  mother  ? 

[To  her] 
Drop  the  ugly  thing! 

Martin's  Wife 

Now,   on   my  word !   and   what 's  amiss  with 

mothers  ? 
Are  mothers  horrible  ? 
[The  Piper  is  struck  with  painful  memories^ 


42  ThePiper 

Piper 

No,  no.   But  —  care 
And  want  and  pain  and  age  .  .   . 
\_Turns  back  to  them  zvith  a  bitter  change  ofvoice~\ 

And  penny-wealth, — 
And    penny -counting.  —  Penny    prides    and 

fears  — 
Of  what  the  neighbors  say  the  neighbors  say  !  — 

Martin's  Wife 
And  were  you  born  without  a  mother,  then  ? 

All 

Yes,  you  there  !  Ah,  I  told  you  !  He 's  no  man. 
He 's  of  the  devil. 

Martin's  Wife 

Who  was  your  mother,  then .? 

Piper 

\_Jiercely'\ 

Mine  !  —  Nay,  I  do  not  know.  Foi-  when  I  saw 

her, 
She  was  a  thing  so  trodden,  lost  and  sad. 


ThePiper  43 

I  cannot  think,  that  she  was  ever  young. 

Save    in    the    cherishing    voice.  —  She   was    a 

stroller ; 
My  father  was  a  stroller.  —  So,  you  have  it ! 
And  since  she  clave  to  him,  and  hunger  too. 
The  Church's  ban  was  on  her.  —  Either  live, 
Mewed  up  forever,  —  she  !  to  be  a  nun  ; 
Or    keep    her    life-long    wandering    with    the 

wind ; 
The  very  name  of  wife  stript  from  her  troth. 
That  was  my  mother.  —  And  she  starved  and 

sang; 
And  like  the  wind,  she  roved  and  lurked  and 

shuddered 
Outside  your  lighted  windows,  and  fled  by. 
Storm-hunted,  trying  to  outstrip  the  snow. 
South, south,  and  homeless  as  a  broken  bird, — 
Limping    and    hiding! — And    she    fled,    and 

laughed. 
And  kept    me    warm ;  and  died  !    To  you,  a 

Nothing; 
Nothing,  forever,  oh,  you  well-housed  mothers! 
As  always,  always  for  the  lighted  windows 
Of  all  the  world,  the  Dark  outside  is  nothing; 
And  all  that  limps  and  hides  there  in  the  dark ; 
Famishing,  —  broken,  —  lost ! 


44-  ThePiper 

And  I  have  sworn 
For  her  sake  and  for  all,  that  I  will  have 
Some  justice,  all  so  late,  for  wretched  men. 
Out  of  these  same  smug  towns  that  drive  us 

forth 
After  the  show  ! —  Or  scheme  to  cage  u?  up 
Out  of  the  sunlight;  like  a  squirrel's  heart 
Torn  out  and  drying  in  the  market-place. 
My  mother!     Do    you    know   what   mothers 

are  ?  — 
Your  children  !  Do  you  know  them  ?  Ah,  not 

you! 
There  's  not  one  here  but  it  would  follow  me. 
For  all  your  bleating  ! 

Axel's  Wife 

Kuno,  come  away! 
[^he  children  cling  to  him.    He  smiles  down 
triumphantly. 

Piper 

Oho,  Oho  !  Look  you  ?  — You  preach  —  I  pipe ! 
[^Reenter  the  men,  with  Kurt  ^«<^  Jacobus, 

from  the  Rathaus,  murmuring  dubiously. 
[The  Piper  sets  down  Jan  and  stands forth^ 
smiling. 


ThePiper  45 

Jacobus 

\_smoothly~\ 

H'm  !    My  good  man,  we  have  faithfully  de- 
bated 
Whether  your  vision  of  so  great  a  sum 
Might  be  fulfilled,  —  as  by  some  miracle. 
But  no.    The  moneys  we  administer 
Will  not  allow  it;  nor  the  common  weal. 
Therefore,  for  your  late  service,  here  you  have 
Full  fifteen  guilders, 

\_H aiding  forth  a  purse] 

and  a  pretty  sum 
Indeed,  for  piping ! 

Kurt 
\_ominously~\ 

Take  them ! 

Jacobus 

Either  that, 
Or,  to  speak  truly,  nothing ! 

\The  Piper  is  motionless'] 
Come,  come.  Nay,  count  them,  if  you  will. 

Kurt 

Time  goes ! 


46  The    Piper 

Piper 

Ay.  And  your  oath  ? 

Kurt 

No  more;    Enough. 
ijThere  is  a  sound  of  organ  music  from  the 
MinsterJ\ 

Veronika 
\beseechingly  ] 

Ah,  Kurt ! 
Kurt 

\_savagely  to  the  crowif] 

What  do  ye,  mewling  of  this  fellow's  rights? 
He  hath  none!  —  Wit  ye  well,  he  is  a  stroller, 
A  wastrel,  and  the  shadow  of  a  man  ! 
Ye  waste  the  day  and  dally  with  the  law. 
Such  have  no  rights  ;  not  in  their  life  nor  body ! 
We  are  in  no  wise  bound.   Nothing  is  his. 
He  may  not  carry  arms  ;  nor  have  redress 
For  any  harm  that  men  should  put  on  him. 
Saving  to  strike  a  shadow  on  the  wall ! 
He  is  a  Nothing,  by  the  statute-book; 
And,  by  the  book,  so  let  him  live  or  die. 
Like  to  a  masterless  dog ! 


ThePiper  47 

[^'The  Piper  stands  molionless  with  head  up- 
raised^  not  looking  at  Kurt.  T^he  people ^ 
half-cowedy  half-doubting^  murmur  and 
draw  back.  Lights  appear  in  the  Minster; 
the  music  continues.  Kurt  and  Jacobus 
lead  in  the  people.  Jacobus  picks  up  the 
money-purse  and  takes  it  with  him. 

Voices 
[^laughing,  drunkenly] 

One  thousand  guilders  to  a  '  masterless  dog ' ! 
\_Others  laugh  too,  pass  by,  with  pity  and 

derision  for  the    Piper,    and  echoes    of 

*  Masterless   Dog  ! '    Exeunt  Women 

and  Men  /o  the  Minster. 
Only  the  children  are  left,  dancing  round  the 

motionless  figure  of  the  Piper. 

Children 

Oh,  pipe  again  !   Oh,  pipe  and  make  us  dance! 
Oh,  pipe  and  make  us  run  away  from  school ! 
Oh,  pipe  and  make  believe  we  are  the  mice! 

\He  looks  down  at  them.  He  looks  up  at 
the  houses.  Then  he  signs  to  them,  with 
his  finger  on  his  lips ;   and  begins,  very 


48  ThePiper 

softly^  to  pipe  the  Kinder-spell.  "The  old 
Claus  and  Ursula  in  the  windows  seem 
to  doze. 

The  children  stop  first,  and  look  at  him,  fas- 
cinated;  then  they  laugh,  drowsily,  and 
creep  closer,  —  Jan  always  near.  They 
crowd  around  him.  He  pipes  louder,  mov- 
ing backwards,  slowly,  with  magical 
gestures,  towards  the  little  by-streets  and 
the  closed  doors.  The  doors  open,  every- 
where. 

Out  come  the  children :  little  ones  in  night- 
gowns;  bigger  ones,  with  playthings,  toy 
animals,  dolls.  He  pipes,  gayer  and  louder. 
They  pour  in,  right  and  left.  Motion  and 
music  fill  the  air.  The  Piper  lifts  Jan  to 
his  shoulder  {dropping  the  little  crutch) 
and  marches  off,  up  the  street  at  the  rear, 
piping,  in  the  midst  of  them  all. 

Last,  out  of  the  Minster  come  tumbling  two 
little  acolytes  in  red,  and  after  them,  Peter 
the  Sacristan.  He  trips  over  them  in  his 
amazement  and  terror;  and  they  are 
gone  after  the  vanishing  children  before 
the  church-people  come  out. 

The  old  folks  lean  from  their  windows. 


ThePiper  49 

Old  Ursula 

The  bell,  the  bell !  the  church  bell  1  They  're 
bewitched  ! 
\_Peter  rushes  to  the  bell-rope  and  pulls  it. 
'The  bell  sounds  heavily.  Reenter^  from 
the  churchy  the  citizens  by  twos  and  threes 
and  scores. 

Old  Ursula 

I  told  ye  all,  —  I  told  ye  !  —  Devils'  bargains  ! 

{The  bell.'] 

[Kurt,  Jacobus,  and  the  others  appear.] 

Kurt 

Peter  the  Sacristan  !   Give  by  the  bell. 
What  means  this  clangor  ? 

Peter  the  Sacristan 

They  're  bewitched  !  bewitched ! 
[Still  pulling  and  shouting.] 

Ursula 
They  're  gone  ! 

Kurt 
Thy  wits ! 


50  ThePiper 

Old  Claus 
They  're  gone  —  they  're  gone — they 're gone! 

Peter  the  Sacristan 

The  children ! 

Ursula 

—  With  the  Piper  !  They  're  bewitched  I 
I  told  ye  so. 

Old  Claus 

—  I  saw  it  with  these  eyes  ! 
He  piped  away  the  children. 

\Horror  in  the  crowd.  T^hey  bring  out  lan~ 
terns  and  candles.  Veronika  holds  up 
the  forgotten  crutch. 

Veronika 

Jan  —  my  Jan ! 

Kurt 
\to  her"] 

Thy  boy  !   But  mine,  my  three,  all  fair  and 
•«     straight.  — 


The    Piper  51 

Axel's  Wife 

\_furiously  to  birn] 

'Twas  thy  false  bargain,  thine  ;  who  would  not 

pay 
The  Piper.  —  But  we  pay  ! 

Peter  /^^  Sacristan 

Bewitched,  bewitched ! 
The  boys  ran  out  —  and  I  ran  after  them. 
And  something  red  did  trip  me  —  't  was  the 

Devil, 
The  Devil ! 

Old  Ursula 

Ah,  ring  on,  and  crack  the  bell; 
Ye  '11  never  have  them  back.  —  I  told  ye  so  ! 

[Ybe  bell  clangs  incessantly  7^ 


Curtain 


Act  II 


Act   II 

Scene  I :  Inside  *  the  Hollow  HilU 

A  great  ^  dim-lighted^  cavernous  place  ^  which  shows 
signs  of  masonry.  It  is  part  cavern  and  part 
cellarage  of  a  ruined^  burned-down  and  for- 
gotten old  monastery  in  the  hills.  —  I^he  only 
entrance  [at  the  centre  rear),  a  ramshackle 
wooden  door,  closes  against  a  flight  of  rocky 
steps.  —  Light  comes  from  an  opening  in  the 
roof,  and  from  the  right,  where  a  faggot-fire 
glows  under  an  iron  pot.  —  The  scene  reaches 
{right  and  left)  into  dim  corners,  where  sleep- 
ing children  lie  curled  up  together  like  kittens. 

By  the  fire  sits  the  Piper,  on  a  tree-stump  seat, 
stitching  at  a  bit  of  red  leather.  At  his  feet 
"  is  a  row  of  bright -colored  small  shoes,  set 
two  and  two.  He  looks  up  now  and  then,  to 
recount  the  children,  and  goes  back  to  work, 
with  quizzical  despair. 

Left,  sits  a  group  of  three  forlorn  Strollers.  One 
nurses   a  lame   knee;  one,  evidently  dumb. 


56 


The    Piper 


talks  in  signs  to  the  others ;  one  is  munch- 
ing bread  and  cheese  out  of  a  wallet.  All 
have  the  look  of  hunted  and  hungry  men, 
'They  speak  only  in  whispers  to  each  other 
throughout  the  scene  ;  but  their  hoarse  laugh- 
ter breaks  out  now  and  then  over  the  bird- 
like ignorance  of  the  children. 
A  shaft  of  sunlight  steals  through  the  hole  in  the 
roof.  Jan,  who  lies  nearest  the  Piper,  wakes 
up. 

Jan 


O 


H! 


\frhe  Piper  turns'] 
Oh,  I  thought  ...   I  had  a  dream  ! 


I  thought  . 
me. 


Soho ! 


Piper 

[softly-] 

Ahe? 

Jan 

I  dreamed  .  .  .  somebody  wanted 

Piper 


ThePiper  57 

Jan 

[earnestly'] 

I  thought  .  .  .  Somebody  Wanted  me. 

Piper 

How  then? 

\JVith  watchful  tenderness.] 

Jan 

I  thought  I  heard  Somebody  crying. 

Piper 

Pfu'i ! —  What  a  dream.  —  Don't  make  me  cry 
again. 

Jan 

Oh,  was  it  you  ?  —  Oh,  yes  ! 

Piper 

\_apartj  tensely] 

No  Michael  yet ! 
[Jan  begins  to  laugh  softly,  in  a  bewildered 
way  ;  then  grows  quite  happy  and  forget- 
ful. While  the  other  children  waken,  he 


58  The    Piper 

reaches  for  the  pipe  and  tries  to  blow  upon 
it,  to  the  Piper's  amusement.  Ilse  and 
Hansel,  the  Butcher  s  children,  wake. 

Ilse 
Oh! 

Hansel 
—  Oh! 

Piper 

Ahe? 

Ilse 
I  thought  I  had  a  dream. 

Piper 
Again  ? 

Ilse 
...  It  was  some  lady,  calling  me. 

Hansel 

Yes,  and  a  fat  man  called  us  to  come  quick; 
A  fat  man,  he  was  crying — about  me  ! 
That  same  fat  man  I  dreamt  of,  yesterday. 


ThePiper  59 

Piper 

Come,  did  you  ever  see  a  fat  man  cry, 
About  a  little  Boy? 

[T'he  Strollers    are   convulsed   with    hoarse 
mirth. 

Hansel 

No,  —  Never. 

Ilse 

Never  ! 
Oh,  what  a  funny  dream! 

[They  giggle  together.'] 

[The  Piper  silences  the  Strollers  ^with  a  ges- 
ture of  warning  towards  the  rocky  door. 

Piper 

[to  himself] 

'T  is  Hans  the  Butcher. 

[To  the  Children] 

Well,  what  did  he  say  ? 

Hansel 

'  Come  home,  come  home,  come  home  I '  But  I  did  n't 

go- 
I  don't  know  where  .  .  .  Oh,  what  a  funny  dream! 


6o  ThePiper 

Ilse 

Mine  was  a  bad  dream!  —  Mine  was  a  lovely 

lady 
And  she  was  by  the  river,  staring  in. 

Piper 

You  were  the  little  gold-fish,  none  could  catch. 
Oh,  what  a  funny  dream  !   .  .  . 
\_Aparti  anxiously] 

No  Michael  yet. 
\_Aloud'] 
Come,  bread  and  broth  !   Here  —  not  all,  three 

at  a  time ; 
'T  is  simpler.  Here,  you  kittens.  Eat  awhile  ; 
Then  — 

[RuDi  wakes. "] 

RuDi 

Oh  !  I  had  a  dream,  —  an  awful  dream  ! 

\l'he  Piper  takes  Jan  on  his  knee  and  feeds 
him,  after  ladling  out  a  big  bowl  of  broth 
from  the  kettle  for  the  Children,  and  giv- 
ing them  bread. 


ThePiper  6i 

Piper 

Oh  !  oh  !  I  had  a  dream  ! 

Children 

Oh,  tell  it  to  us  ! 

Piper 

I   dreamed  ...  a  Stork  .  .  .  had   nested  in 
my  hat. 

Children 
Oh! 

Piper 
And  when  I  woke  — 

Children 

You  had  — 

Piper 

One  hundred  children  ! 

Children 
Oh,  it  came  true  !   Oh,  oh ;  it  all  came  true  ! 


62  ThePiper 

The  Strollers 

Ah,  ho,  ho,  ho  ! 

[The  dumb  one  rises,  stretches,  and  steals 
toward  the  entrance,  stopping    to  slip  a  * 
blind-patch  over  one  eye.   The  Piper  ^oifj" 
to  him  with  one  stride,  seizing  him  by  the 
shoulder. 

Piper 

[to  him,  and  the  others,  apart~\ 

Look  you.  —  No  Michael  yet! — And  he  is 

gone 
Full  three  days  now,  —  three  days.     If  he  be 

caught. 
Why  then,  —  the  little  ravens  shall  be  fed! 

[Groans  from  the  three~\ 
Enough  that  Cheat-the-Devil  leaked  out  too  ;  — 
No    foot    but   mine    shall    quit    this    fox-hole 

now ! 
And  you,  —  think  praise  for  once,  you  have  no 

tongue. 
And  keep  these  magpies  quiet.      [Turns  away. 
[To  himself~\ 

Ah,  that  girl. 
The  Burgomeister's  Barbara !   But  for  her, 


ThePiper  63 

And  moon-struck  Michael  with  his  'one  more 

look'! 
Where  is  he  now?  —  And  where  are  we? 

[^Turning  back  to  the  Children^    So,  so. 

[  'The  Strollers  huddle  together^  with  looks 
of  renewed  anxiety  and  wretchedness.  — 
Their  laughter  at  the  Children  breaks  out 
forlornly  now  and  then.  —  The  Piper 
shepherds  the  Children^  but  with  watchful 
eyes  and  ears  toward  the  entrance  always. 
—  His  action  grows  more  and  more  tense, 

RuDi 

\_over  his  broth'] 

Oh,  I  remember  now !  —  Before  I  woke  .  .  . 
Oh,  what  an  awful  dream  ! 

Ilse 

Oh,  tell  us,  Rudi,  — 
Oh,  scare  us,  —  Rudi,  scare  us  !  — 

RuDi 

[bursting  into  tears] 

.  .  .  Lump  was  dead! 
Lump,  Lump  !  —  [The  Children  wail. 


64  ThePiper 

Piper 

\distractecr\ 
Who 's  Lump  ?  — 

RUDI 

Our  Dog ! 

Piper 

[shocked  and  pained^ 

The  Dog!  —  No,  no. 
Heaven  save  us  —  I  forgot  about  the  dogs  ! 

RuDi 

He  Wanted  me; — and  I  always  wasn't  there! 
And  people  tied  him  up,  —  and  other  people 
Pretended  that  he  bit.  —  He  never  bites  ! 
He  Wanted  me,  until  it  broke  his  heart. 
And  he  was  dead ! 

Piper 

[struggling  with  his  emotion'] 

And  then  he  went  to  heaven. 
To  chase  the  happy  cats  up  all  the  trees  ;  — 
Little  white  cats  !   ...    He  wears  a  golden 
collar  .  .  . 


ThePiper  65 

And  sometimes  —  \_Aside]  —  I  'd  forgot  about 

the  dogs  ! 
Well,  dogs  must  suffer,  so  that  men  grow  wise. 
*T  was  ever  so. 

\_He  turns  to  give  Jan  a  piping  lesson.'] 

Children 

Oh,  what  a  funny  dream  ! 
[Suddenly  he  lifts  his  hand.  'They  listen^  and 
hear  a  dim  sound  of  distant  chanting^  going 
by  on  some  neighboring  road.  The  Piper 
is  puzzled;  the  Strollers  are  plainly  de- 
pressed. 

Jan 

What  is  it  ? 

Piper 

People ;  passing  down  below. 
In  the  dark  valley. 

\_He  looks  at  the  Children  fixedly] 

Do  you  want  to  see  them  ? 

Children 

Don't  let  them  find  us !  What  an  ugly  noise.  — 
No,  no  —  don't  let  them  come  ! 


66  ThePiper 

Piper 

Hark  ye  to  me. 
Some  day  I  '11  take  you  out  with  me  to  play; 
High  in  the  sun,  —  close  to  the  water-fall.   .  .  . 
And  we  will  make  believe — We'll  make  believe 
We  're  hiding  !  .  .  . 

[The  Scrollers  rock  with  mirth.'l 

Children 
Yes,  yes !  Oh,  let  us  make  believe  ! 

Strollers 
Oho,  ho,  ho  1  —  A  make-believe !  —  Ho,  ho  ! 

Piper 

But,  if  you  're  good, —  yes,  very,  very  soon 
I  '11  take  you,  as  I  promised,  — 

Children 

—  Gypsies,  oh  ! 
Piper 

Yes,  with  the  gypsies.  We  shall  go  at  night. 
With  just  a  torch  — 

[Watching  themJ] 


The    Piper  67 

Children 
Oh! 

Piper 

Like  fire-flies  !  Will-o'-the-wisps ! 
And  make  believe  we  're  hiding,  all  the  way, 
Till  we  come  out  into  a  sunny  land,  — 
All  vines  and  sunlight,  yes,  and  men  that  sing  ! 
Far,  far  away  —  forever. 
\_Gives  Ilse  a  bowl  to  feed  the  other  children] 

[Jan  pipes  a  measure  of  the  Kinder-spell, 
brokenly.    "The  Piper  turns. 

So !  Thou  'It  be 
My  master,  some  day.  Thou  shalt  pipe  for  me. 

Jan 

[piping] 

Oh,  was  n't  that  one  beautiful  ?  —  Now  you  ! 

Piper 

[taking  the  pipe] 

The  rainbow-bridge  by  day ; 

—  And  borrow  a  shepherd-crook! 
At  night  we  take  to  the  Milky  Way ; 
And  then  we  follow  the  brook! 


68  ThePiper 

We  Ul  follow  the  brook^  whatever  way 
The  brook  shall  sing^  or  the  sun  shall  say. 

Or  the  mothering  wood-dove  coos  ! 
And  what  do  I  care,  what  else  I  wear. 

If  I  keep  my  rainbow  shoes  ! 

[He  points  to  the  little  row  of  bright  shoes. 
The  Children  scream  with  joy.  Ilse  and 
Hansel  run  back. 

Children 

Oh  dear  !  What  lovely  shoes !    Oh,  which 

are  mine  ? 
Oh!  Oh!  —  What  lovely  shoes  !  Oh,  which 

are  mine  ? 

Piper 

Try,  till  you  see. 

[Taking  up  a  little  red  pair"] 

But  these,  —  these  are  for  Jan. 
[Jan  is  perched  on  the  tree-stumpy  shy  and 
silent  with  pleasure. 

Ilse 
Oh,  those  are  best  of  all !  And  Jan  — 


The    Piper  69 

Piper 

And  Jan 
Is  not  to  trudge,  like  you.  Jan  is  to  wear 
Beautiful  shoes,  and  shoes  made  most  of  all, 
To  look  at ! 

[Takes  up  a  pair  of  bird's  wings. ~\ 

Children 
\_squealing'\ 

Oh!  Where  did  you  find  the  wings? 
Bird's  wings ! 

Piper 

There  was  some  hunter  In  the  woods, 
Who   killed   more   birds   than  he  could  carry 

home. 
He  did  not  want  these,  —  though  the  starling 

did, 
But  could  not  use  them  more  !    And  so, — 
\_Fastening  one  to  each  beef] 

And  so, — 
They  trim  a  little  boy. 

\_Puls  them  on  Jan.  He  is  radiant.  He 
stretches  out  his  legs  and  pats  the  feath- 
ers. 


70  ThePiper 

Children 

\_frying  on  theirs  and  capering] 

O  Jan !  —  O  Jan  1 

Oh  !  see  my  shoes  ! 

[T'he  Piper  looks  at  Jan.] 

Piper 
Hey  day,  what  now  ? 

Jan 

I  wish  .  .  . 

Piper 

What  do   you  wish  ?  Wish  for  it !  —  It  shall 
come. 
[Jan  pulls  him  closer  and  speaks  shyly ^ 

Jan 

I  wish  —  that    I    could    show   them  —  to   the 

Man, 
The  Lonely  Man. 

\T^he  Piper  looks  at  him  and  backs  away ; 

sits  down  helplessly  and  looks  at  him  again. 
Oh,  can  I  ?  — 


The    Piper  71 

Piper 
Thou  !  —  'T  would  make  me  a  proud  man. 

Jan 

Oh  !  it  would  make  Him  smile  ! 

\T^he  Children  dance  and  caper.  Trude 
wakes  up  and  joins  them.  Sound  of  distant 
chanting  again, 

Trude 

—  I  had  a  dream  ! 

Piper 

A  dream  ! 

[Pretending  to  be  amazed.  Reflects^  a  moment^ 

I  know  !  —  Oh,  what  a  funny  dream  ! 

[The  Children  all  fall  a-laughing  when  he 

does.  —  Noise  without.  Cheat-the-DeviY s 

voice  cryingy  *  Cuckoo  —  Cuckoo  !  * 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Quick,  quick  ! —  I  've  something  here. 

[The  others  roll  away  a  big  stone^  and  enter 
by  the  wooden  door  {rear\  Cheat-the- 


72  ThePiper 

Devil.  He  does  not  wear  his  red  hood. 
He  has  a  garland  round  his  neck^  and  a 
basket  on  his  arm. 

Piper 

\_sharply  to  himself '\ 

No  Michael  yet ! 
\_To  Cheat-the-Devil] 
Michael !  —  Where  's  Michael  ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Look  you,  —  you  must  wait. 
We  must   be  cunning.  —  There  's   a  squirrel, 

mark  you. 
Hopped  after  me !    He  would  have  found  us 

out. 
I  wanted  him  ;  I  loved  him.   But  I  ran. 
For  once  a  squirrel  falls  a-talking.  —  Ah! 
Look  what  I  have.  —  Guess,  guess  ! 

\Showing  his  basket  to  the  Children."] 

Children 

Cakes  ! 
\_He  is  sad] 


The    Piper  73 

Shoes ! 
[//(f  is  sadder~\ 

Then  —  honey ! 
\_He  radiantly  undoes  his  basket ^  and  displays 
a  honeycomb.  'The  Str oiler s^toOy  rush  upon 
him. 

Piper 

Ah,  Cheat-the-Devil !    They  would  crop  your 

ears. 
Where  had  you  this  ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Why,  such  a  kind  old  farmer! 
He'd  left  his  bee-hives;  they  were  all  alone; 
And  the  bees  know  me.    So  I  brought  this  for 

you; 
I  knew  They  'd  like  it.  —  Oh,  you  're  happy 

now ! 

Piper 
But  Michael,  —  have  they  caught  him  ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Oh,  not  they! 
I  heard  no  word  of  Michael ;  Michael 's  safe  ! 


74  ThePiper 

Once  on  the  road  I  met  a  countryman, 
Asked  me  the  way.  And  not  a  word  I  spoke! 
*Tis  far  the  wisest.    Twenty  riddles  he  asked 

me. 
I  smiled  and  wagged  my  head.  Anon  cries  he, 
'This  Fool  is  deaf  and  dumb!'  —  That  made 

me  angry. 
But  still  I  spoke  not.  —  And  I  would  not  hurt 

him  ! 
He  was  a  bad  man.    But  I  liked  the  mule. — 
Now  am  I  safe!  —  Now  am  I  home  at  last! 

Piper 

'St.  —  Met  you  any  people  on  the  way. 
Singing? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

No,  growling,  —  growling  dreary  psalms 
All  on  a  sunny  day  !    Behind  the  hedges, 
I  saw  them  go.  They  go  from  Hamelin,  now ; 
And  I  know  why!  — 

[T'he   Piper   beckons   him   away  from    the 
Children. 

The  mayor's  Barbara 
Must  go  to  Rudersheim,  to  be  a  Nun ! 


The    Piper  75 

Piper 

To  be  a  Nun  ! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

A  penance  for  them  all. 
She  weeps;  but  she  must  go!  All  they,  you  see, 
Are  wroth   against   him.  —  He   must  give  his 
child  — 

Piper 
A  nun! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

[nodding] 

Forever!  —  She,  who  smiled  at  Michael. 
Look  you,  she  weeps  !    They  are  bad  people 

all;  — 
Nothing  like  these.      \_Looking  at  the  Children. 
These  are  all  beautiful. 

Piper 

To  lock  her  up!  A  maiden,  shut  away 
Out  of  the  light.  To  cage  her  there  for  life. 
Cut  off  her  hair  ;  pretend  that  she  is  dead  !  — 
Horrible,  horrible  !  No,  I  '11  not  endure  it. 


76  ThePiper 

I  '11  end  this  murder. —  He  shall  give  up  his; 
But  never  so  !  —  Not  so  !  —  While  I  do  live 
To  let  things  out  of  cages !  —  Tell  me,  quick !  — 
"When  shall  it  happen? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Why,  it  falls  to-day. 
I  saw  two  herds  of  people  going  by, 
To  be  there  well  aforetime,  for  the  sight. 
And  she  is  going  last  of  all,  at  noon; 
All  sparkling,  like  a  Bride.  —  I  heard  them  tell. 

Piper 

No,  never,  never!  —  No,  it  shall  not  be! 
Hist!  — 

\_Steps  heard  scrambling  down  the  entrance- 
way. 

[Enter  Michael  in  mad  haste.  "They  rush 
upon  him  with  exultation  and  relief.  He 
shakes  them  off,  doggedly. 

Piper 

So !  —  You  had  like  to  have  hanged  us. 


The     Piper  77 

Michael 

—  What  of  that  ? 

Piper 

All  for  a  lily  maiden. 

Michael 

Ah,  —  thy  pipe  ! 
How  will  it  save  her  ?  —  Save  her  !  —  Tune  thy 

pipe 
To  compass  that!  —  You  do  not  know  — 

Piper 

I  know. 
Tell  me  no  more.  —  I  say  it  shall  not  be  ! 
To  heel,  lad  !   No,  I  follow,  —  none  but  I  ! 
Go,  —  go  !  [Michael  rushes  out  again. 

[T'o   Cheat-the-Devil,  pointing   to  the 
Children~\ 
Do  you  bide  here  and  shepherd  these. 

Children 

Where  are  you  going  ?  —  Take  us  too  !  —  us 

too !  — 
Oh,  take  us  with  you  ?  —  Take  us  ! 


78  ThePiper 

Piper 

\distracted~\ 

No,  no,  no  ! 

You  shall  be  kittens  all.  And  chase  your  tails, 
Till  I  come  back  !  —  So  here  ! 

[Catches  Hansel  and  affixes  to  his  little 
jacket  a  long  strip  of  leather  for  a  tail; 
then  whirls  him  about. 

Children 

Me  too  !  —  Me  too  ! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Let  me  make  tails,  —  let  me  ! 

[Seizing  shears  and  leather!^ 

Piper 

[wildly^ 

Faith,  and  you  shall, 

A    master    tailor!  —  Come,    here 's    food    for 

thought. 

Think  all, — 

[To  the  Strollers'] 

And  hold  your  tongues,  there !  — 

If  a  Cat  — 


The    Piper  79 

If  a  Cat  have  —  as  all  men  say —  Nine  Lives, 

And  if  Nine  Tailors  go  to  make  a  Man, 

How  long,  then,  shall  it  take  one  Man  turned 
Tailor 

To  keep  a  Cat  in  Tails,  until  she  die  ? 

[Cheat-the-Devil  looks  subdued  ;  the  chil- 
dren whirl  about. 

But  here  's  no  game  for  Jan.  —  Stay  !  Some- 
thing else. — 
\H.e  runs  to  a  wooden  coffer^  rear^  and  takes 
out  a  long  crystal  on  the  end  of  a  string, 
with  a  glance  at  the  shaft  of  sunlight  from 
th?  roof.    'The  Children  watch. 

Be  quiet,  now.  —  Chase  not  your  tails  too  far, 

Till  I  come  home  again. 

Children 
Come  home  —  come  home  1 

Piper 
And  you  shall  see  my  — 

Children 

Something  Beautiful ! 
Oh,  oh,  what  is  It  ?  —  Oh,  and  will  it  play  I 
Will  it  play  music  ? 


8o  ThePiper 

Piper 

Yes. 
[//(?  hangs  the  crystal  in  the  sun.  A  Rain-^ 
bow  strikes  the  wall. 

—  The  best  of  all ! 

Cheat-the-Devil,  Jan,  Children 
Oh,  oh,  how  beautiful,  —  how  beautiful ! 

Piper 

And  hear  it  pipe  and  call,  and  dance,  and  sing. 
Heja!  —  And    hark  you   all.     You    have    to 

mind  — 
The  Rainbow  ! 

\_He  climbs  out^  pipe  in  hand.  'The  Children 
whirl  about  after  their  tails.  —  Cheat- 
the-Devil,  and  Jan  on  his  tree-stumps 
open-mouthed  with  happiness^  watch  the 
Rainbow. 


Curtain 


The    Piper  8i 

Scene  1 1  :  The  Cross-ways :  on  the  Long  Road 
to  Ruder sheim. 

A  wooded  country  :  high  hills  at  back.  'The  place 
is  wild  and  overgrown^  like  the  haunted  spot 
it  is  reputed  to  be.  In  the  foreground,  right,  a 
ruined  stone  well  appears,  in  a  mass  of  weeds 
and  vines.  Opposite,  left,  tall  trees  and  dense 
thickets.  Where  the  roads  cross  {to  left  of 
centre^,  stands  a  large,  neglected  shrine,  with 
a  weather-worn  figure  of  Christ,  —  again  the 
^Lonely  Man,' — facing  towards  Hamelin. — 
The  stage  is  empty,  at  rise  of  the  curtain  ;  but 
the  sound  of  chanting  from  burghers  just  gone 
by  fades  slowly,  on  the  road  to  Rudersheim. 

From  the  hillside  at  the  rear  comes  the  Piper, 
wrapped  in  a  long  green  cloak,  his  pipe  in 
his  hand.  He  looks  after  the  procession,  and 
back  to  Hamelin. — Enter,  springing  from  the 
bushes  to  the  right,  Michael,  who  seizes  him. 

Their  speech  goes  breathlessly. 


0 


Michael 

UICK!  — tellme- 


PlPER 

—  Patience. 


82  The    Piper 

Michael 

Patience  ?  —  Death  and  hell ! 
Oh,  save    her  —  save  her!    Give  the  children 
back. 

Piper 
Never.  Have  you  betrayed  us  ? 

Michael 

1 !  —  betrayed  ? 
Piper 
So,  so,  lad. 

Michael 
But  to  save  her  — 

Piper 

There  's  a  way, — 
Trust  me  !  I  save  her,  or  we  swing  together 
Merrily,  in  a  row.  —  How  did  you  see  her? 

Michael 

By  stealth:  two  days  ago,  at  evening, 

Hard  by  the  vine-hid  wall  of  her  own  garden, 


The    Piper  83 

I  made  a  warbling  like  a  nightingale; 
And  she  came  out  to  hear. 


Piper 

A  serenade ! 


Under  the  halter ! 


Michael 

Hush. — A  death-black  night, 
Until  she  came.  —  Oh,  how  to  tell  thee,  lad! 
She  came,  —  she  came,  not  for  the  nightingale. 
But  even  dreaming  that  it  would  be  I  1 

Piper 
She  knew  you  ?  —  We  are  trapped,  then. 

Michael 

No,  not  so  ! 
She  smiled  on  me.  —  Dost  thou  remember  how 
She  smiled  on  me  that  day?  Alas,  poor  maid. 
She  took  me  for  some  noble  in  disguise  ! 
And  all  these  days,  —  she  told  me,  —  she  had 

dreamed 
That  I  would  come  to  save  her ! 


84  ThePiper 

Piper 

Said  she  this? 

Michael 

All  this  —  all  this,  and  more!   .  .  . 

What  could  lies  do  ?  —  I  lied  to  her  of  thee ; 

I  swore  I  knew  not  of  thy  vanishment, 

Nor  the  lost  children.   But  1  told  her  true, 

I  was  a  stroller  and  an  outcast  man 

That  hid  there,  like  a  famished  castaway, 

For  one  more  word,  without  a  hope,  —  a  hope; 

Helpless  to  save  her. 

Piper 

And  she  told  thee  then. 
She  goes  to  be  a  nun? 

Michael 

Youth  to  the  grave  ! 
And    I  —  vile   nothing  —  cannot   go    to    save 

her. 
Only  to  look  my  last  — 

Piper 

Who  knows? 


ThePiper  85 

Michael 

[bitterly] 

Ah,  thou! — 

Piper 

Poor  Nightingale  ! 

[Fingers  his  pipe,  noiselessly.'] 

Michael 
[rapt  with  grief] 

Oh,  but  the  scorn  of  her ! 

Piper 

She  smiled  on  thee. 

Michael 

Until  she  heard  the  truth  :  — 
A  juggler,  —  truly, — and  no  wandering  knight ! 
Oh,  and  she  wept. 

[TVildly] 
Let  us  all  hang  together. 

Piper 
Thanks.  Kindly  spoken. —  Not  this  afternoon ! 


86  ThePiper 

Michael 
Thou  knowest  they  are  given  up  for  dead  ? 

Piper 


Truly. 

Bewitched? 


Michael 

Piper 
So  are  they. 

Michael 

Sold  to  the  Devil? 


Piper 

\_Pacmg  softly  up  and  dowriy  with  the  rest- 
less cunning  of  a  squirrel  at  watch~\ 

Pfui  1  But  who  else  ?  Of  course.  This  same  old 

Devil ! 
This  kind  old  Devil  takes  on  him  all  we  do  ! 
Who  else  is  such  a  refuge  in  this  world  ? 
Who  could  have  burned  the  abbey  in  this  place. 
Where  holy  men  did   live?   Why,  't  was  the 

Devil ! 


ThePiper  87 

And  who  did  guard  us  one  secluded  spot 
By  burying  a  wizard  at  this  cross-ways  ?  — 
So  none  dare  search  the  haunted,  evil  place  ! 
The  Devil  for  a  landlord!  —  So  say  I  ! 
And  all  we  poor,  we  strollers,  for  his  tenants; 
We  gypsies  and  we  pipers  in  the  world, 
And  a  few  hermits  and  sword-swallowers, 
And  all  the  cast-aways  that  Holy  Church 
Must  put  in  cages  —  cages  —  to  the  end  ! 

\_To  Michael,  who  is  overcome] 
Take  heart!    I   swear,  —  by  all  the  stars  that 

chime  ! 
I  '11  not  have  things  in  Cages  1 

Michael 

Barbara  ! 
So  young,  —  so  young  and  beautiful ! 

Piper 

And  fit 
To  marry  with  friend  Michael ! 

Michael 

Do  not  mock. 


88  The    Piper 

Piper 
I  mock  not.  —  (Baa  —  Baa  —  Barbara  !) 

Michael 

Ay,  she  laughed, 
On  that  first  day.  But  still  she  gazed.  —  I  saw 
Her,  all  the  while  !  I  swallowed  — 

Piper 

Prodigies  ! 
A  thousand  swallows,  and  no  summer  yet ! 
But  now,  —  't  is  late  to  ask,  —  why  did  you  not 
Swallow  her  father  ?  —  That  had  saved  us  all. 

Michael 

They  will  be  coming  soon.  They  will  cut  off 
All  her  bright  hair,  —  and  wall  her  in  forever. 

Piper 

Never.  They  shall  not. 

Michael 

[dully~\ 

Will  you  give  them  back, 

Now? 


ThePiper  89 

Piper 

I  will  never  give  them  back.  Be  sure. 

Michael 

And  she  Is  made  an  offering  for  the  town  ! 
I  heard  it  of  the  gossips.  —  They  have  sworn 
Jacobus  shall  not  keep  his  one  ewe-lamb 
While  all  the  rest  go  childless. 

Piper 

And  I  swear 
That  he  shall  give  her  up,  —  to  none  but  thee  ! 

Michael 

You  cannot  do  it ! 

Piper 

Have  I  lived  like  Cain, 
But  to  make  good  one  hour  of  Life  and  Sun  ? 
And  have  I  got  this  Hamelin  in  my  hands. 
To  make  it  pay  its  thousand  cruelties 
With  such  a  fool's  one-more  ?   .  .  . 

—  You  know  right  well, 
*T  was  not  the  thousand  guilders  that  I  wanted 


90  ThePiper 

For  thee,  or  me,  or  any  !  —  Ten  would  serve. 
But  there  it  ached ;  there^  in  the  money-bag 
That  serves  the  town  of  Hamelin  for  an  heart  ! 
That  stab  was  mortal !  And  I  thrust  it  deep. 
Life,  life,  I  wanted  ;  safety,  —  sun  and  wind  !  — 
And  but  to  show  them  how  that  daily  fear 
They  call  their  faith,  is  made  of  blasphemies 
That  would  put  out  the  Sun  and  Moon  and 

Stars, 
Early,  for  some  last  judgment! 

\He  laughs  up  to  the  tree-tops^ 

And  the  Lord, 
Where  will  He  get  His  harpers  and  singing-men 
And  them  that  laugh  for  joy  ?  —  From  Hamelin 

guilds  ?  — 
Will  you  imagine  Kurt  the  Councillor 
Trying  to  sing  ? 

\_He  looks  at  his  pipe  again ;  then  listens  in- 
tently. 

Michael 

His  lean  throat  freeze!  —  But  she  — 
Barbara !  Barbara  !  — 

Piper 

Patience.  She  will  come, 
Dressed  like  a  bride. 


I  mock  not. 


The    Piper  91 

Michael 

Ah,  do  not  mock  me  so. 

Piper 

Michael 

She  will  never  look  at  me. 


Piper 

Rather  than  be  a  nun,  I  swear  she  will 
Look  at  thee  twice,  — and  with  a  long,  long  look. 
[Chant  approaches  in  the  distance^  coming 
from  Hamelin. 

Voices 

Dies  iraCy  dies  ilia 
Solve t  saeclum  in  favilla^ 
Teste  David  cum  Sibylla, 

^uantus  tremor  est  futuruSy 
^ando  judex  est  venturuSy 
Cuncta  strict e  discussurus  ! 

Piper 
Bah,  how  they  whine  !  Why  do  they  drag  it  so  ? 


92  ThePiper 

Michael 
[^overcome] 

Oh,  can  it  be  the  last  of  all?  O  Saints!  — 
O  blessed  Francis,  Ursula,  Catherine  ! 
Hubert  —  and  Crispin  —  Pantaleone  —  Paul ! 
George  o'  the  Dragon  !  —  Michael   the  Arch- 
angel ! 

Piper 

Michael  Sword-eater,  canst  not  swallow  a  chant  ? 
The  well,  the  well !  —  Take  care. 

Voices 
[nearer] 

Inter  oves  locum  praesta^ 
Et  ab  hoedis  me  sequestra, 
Statuens  in  -parte  dextra. 

Confutatis  maledictis, 
Flammis  acribus  addictis : 
Voca  me  cum  benedictis. 

[Michael   climbs  down  the  ancient  well, 

reaching  his  head  up  warily,  to  see. 
The  Piper  waves  to  him  debonairly,  points 


The    Piper  93 

to  the  tree-tops^  left^  and  stands  a  moment 
showing  in  his  face  his  disapproval  of  the 
music.  He  fingers  his  pipe.  As  the  hymn 
draws  near,  he  scrambles  among  the  bushes y 
lefty  and  disappears. 
Enter  slowly  y  chantingy  the  company  of  burgh- 
ers from  Hameliny  —  men  together  fir  sty 
headed  hy  priests ;  then  the  women. — An- 
SELM  and  all  the  townsfolk  appear  {saving 
Veronika,  the  wife  ^Kurt);  Jacobus 
is  meek;  Kurt  very  stern.  —  As  they 
appear  y  the  piping  of  the  Dance-spell  begins 
softly y  high  in  air.  The  hymn  wavers; 
when  the  first  burghers  reach  the  centre 
of  the  stage y  it  breaks  down. 
They  look  upy  bewildered ;  theny  with  every 
sign  of  consternationy  struggle y  and  vacant 
feary  they  begin  to  dance y  willy-nilly.  Their 
faces  work  ;  they  struggle  to  walk  on  ;  but 
it  is  useless.  The  music  whirls  them  irre- 
sistibly into  a  rhythmic  pace  of  f  time,  and 
jogs  their  wordsy  when  they  try  to  speak, 
into  the  same  dance-measure.  One  by  one, 
—  two  and  two  they  go, —  round  and  round 
like  corks  at  first  y  with  every  sign  of  strug- 
gle and  protest y  then  off,  on  the  long  road 


94  The     Piper 

to  Ruder  sheim.  Fat  priests  waltz  together. 
—  Kurt  the  fierce  and  Jacobus  the  sleek 
hug  each  other  in  frantic  endeavor  to  be 
released.   'Their  words  jolt  insanely. 


{ 


Kurt,  Jacobus 

No,  no.  —  No,  no  —  No,  no.  —  No,  no  ! 
Yes,  yes.  —  I,  yes.  —  Yes,  yes.  —  Yes,  yes ! 

Some 


La  —  cry  mo  s  —  a  —  Dies  —  /// — 
Bewitched  —  the    Devil !  —  bewitched  —  be- 
witched ! 
I  will  not  —  will  not  —  will  —  1  will ! 
No,  no  —  but  where  !  —  Help  —  help  !  —  To 


arms 


Others 

Suppli  —  canti  —  suppli  —  Oh  I 

To  Hamelin — back  —  to  Hamelin — stay! 

No,  no  !  —  No,  no,  —  Away,  —  away  ! 

[They  dance  out^  convulsively y  towards  Ru- 
dersheim.  Kurt  ^«<^  Jacobus,  still  whirl- 
ing, cry,  — 


The    Piper  95 

Jacobus,  Kurt 

r  Yes,  yes  !  —  yes,  yes!  —  Let  go  —  let  go  — 
LNo,  no!  —  I  will  not  —  No!  ...  No  ! 

\_Exeunt  left^  dancing. 

Others 

'  Keep    time,    keep   time  !    Have   mercy !  — 
Time  ! 
Oh,  let  me  —  go  !  — Let  go  —  let  go  ! 
Yes,  yes  —  Yes,  yes  —  No,  no  —  no  —  no  ! 

[Barbara  appears^  pale  and  beautiful;  — 
richly  dressed  in  white  ^  with  flowing  locks. 
She  is  wan  and  exhausted.  —  'The  dance- 
mania,  as  it  seizes  her,  makes  her  circle 
slowly  and  dazedly  with  a  certain  pitiful 
silliness.  'The  nuns  and  monks  accompanying 
her  point  in  horror.  But  they,  too,  dance  off 
with  each  other,  willy-nilly, — like  leaves 
in  a  tempest,  Barbara  is  left  alone,  still 
circling  slowly.  The  piping  sounds  softer. 
She  staggers  against  a  tree,  and  keeps  on 
waving  her  hands  and  turning  her  head, 
vaguely,  in  time. 

Michael  looks  forth  from  the  well ;  then 
climbs  out  and  approaches  her. 


g6  The    Piper 

Michael 

She  is  so  beautiful,  —  how  dare  I  tell  her  ? 

My     heart,     how     beautiful  !       The     blessed 
saint !   .   .   . 

Fear  nothing,  fairest  Lady.  —  You  are  saved. 
[^Sbe  looks  at  him  unseeingly^  and  continues  to 
dance.  —  He  holds  out  his  arms  to  stop  her. 

Pray  you,  the  danger  's  gone.   Pray  you,  take 
breath ! 

Poor,  shining  dove,  —  I  would  not  hold  thee 
here. 

Against  thy  wish.  —  'T  is  Michael,  the  sword- 
cater. 

\T^he  piping  ceases^ 

Barbara 

\murmuring\ 

Yes,  yes  —  I  must  —  I  must — I  must  .  .  . 
\Reenter  the  Viper  from  the  thickets."] 

Michael 

Look,  I  will  guard  you  like  a  princess,  here ; 
Yes,  like  Our  Lady's  rose-vine. 


The    Piper  97 

Barbara 

[gasping] 

Ah,  my  heart ! 

[The  Piper  comes  towards  her.    She  sees 

him  and  holds  out  her  arms^  crying :  — 

Oh,  he  has  saved  me  !  —  I  am  thine  —  thine  — 

thine  ! 

\Falls   into    his   arms  half-fainting.      The 

Piper  stands  amazed^  alarmed^  chagrined. 


Piper 
Mine? 

Michael 

\_furiously\ 

Thine  ?  —  So  was  it  ?   All  a  trap  ?   Cock's 

blood ! 
Thine,  thine  !  —  And  thou  hast  piped  her  wits 

away. 
Thine  ! 

Piper 

[holding  her  off^ 

No,  not  mine  ! 


98  T  H  E     Pi  P  E  R 

Barbara 

Why  did  you  steal  me  hence? 
When  did  you  love  me  ?  —  Was  It  on  first  sight  ? 

Piper 

\confounded'\ 
I,  love  thee  ? 

Michael 

—  Knave  !  thief!  liar  ! 

Piper 

—  Give  me  breath. 
[Holds  off  Barbara  gently. "] 

Barbara 
Where  are  you  taking  me  ? 

Piper 

I  ?  Taking  thee  ? 

Michael 
\_to  her\ 

He  shall  not  steal  thee  ! 


ThePiper  99 

Barbara 

£/«  a  dazi] 

I  must  follow  him. 

Piper 

No!  'T  Is  too  much.  You  shall  not  follow  me  ? 
I  '11  not  be  followed.  —  Damsel,  sit  you  down. 
Here  is  too  much !   I  love  you  not. 


You  do  not  ? 


Barbara 

\_'Wonderingly'\ 

Why  did  you  pipe  to  me  ? 

Michael 

—  And  steal  her  wits, 
Stealer  of  all  the  children  ! 

Barbara 

[vaguely^ 

Are  they  safe? 

Piper 

\_to  Michael] 

Oh,  your  good  faith  !  — 

[T'o  her] 

They  're  safe. 


loo  The    Piper 

Barbara 

I  knew  —  I  knew  it ! 

Piper 

And  so  art  thou.   But  never  shall  they  go 
To  Hamelin  more ;  and  never  shalt  thou  go 
To  be  a  nun. 

Barbara 

To  be  a  nun,  —  no,  no!  Ah  me,  I  'm  spent. 
Sir,  take  me  with  you. 

Michael 

\jtill  enragedy  to  the  Piper] 

Rid  her  of  the  spell ! 
Is  this  thy  pledge? 

Piper 

[distracted^ 

I  do  but  rub  my  wits  — 
To  think  —  to  think. 

[To  hmself~\ 

What  shall  I  do  with  her, 
Now  that  she  's  here  !  —  Suppose  her  bound  to 
stay ! 


The    Piper  ioi 

ITo  theni] 

Hearken.  —  You,  Michael,  on  to  Rudershelm  — 

Michael 

And  leave  her  here  ?  No,  no ! 

Piper 

Then  take  the  girL 

Barbara 
To  Rudersheim  ?  No,  never,  never! 

Piper 

Well  .  .  . 
Hearken. —  There  is  the  hermit,  over  the  hill. 

\_Apart^  wildly^ 
But  how  —  suppose  she  will  not  marry  him? 
I  will  not  take  her  where  the  children  are. 
And  yet  — 

[An  idea  strikes  him.  To  her\ 
Hark,  now; —  hark,  now,  and  tell  me  truly  s 
Can  you  spin  cloth  ? 

Barbara 
\amazec[\ 

I?  Spin? 


I02  The    Piper 


Piper 

[eagerly~\ 

Can  you  make  shoes? 


Barbara 
I  —  /  make  shoes !  —  Fellow  ! 

Piper 

So. 

Michael 

Art  thou  mad ! 

Piper 

With  me  you  may  not  go  !  But  you  '11  be  safe. 
Hearken :  —  you,  Michael,  go  to  Rudersheim  ; 
And  tell  the  nuns  — 

Barbara 

No,  no!  I  dare  not  have  it! 
Oh,  they  would  send  and  take  me !  No,  no,  no ! 

Piper 
Would  you  go  back  to  Hamelin? 


The    Piper  103 

Barbara 

No  —  no —  no  ! 
Ah,  I  am  spent. 

\_Droops  towards  the  Piper;  falters  and 
sinks  down  on  the  bank  beside  the  welly 
in  a  swoon.  —  The  Piper  is  abashed  and 
rueful  for  the  moment. 

Michael 
All  this,  your  work  ! 

Piper 

[looking  at  her  closely\ 

Not  mine. 

This  is  no  charm.   It  is  all  youth  and  grief, 

And  weariness.  And  she  shall  follow  you. — 

Tell   the   good   nuns  you  found  her  sore  be- 
witched, 

Here   in  this  haunt   of  Mevils';  —  clean  dis- 
traught. 

No  Church  could  so  receive  a  dancing  nun  ! 

Tell  them  thou  art  an  honest,  piteous  man 

Desires  to  marry  her. 

Michael 

Marry  the  Moon! 


I04  The    Piper 

Piper 

No,  no,  the  Moon   for   me !  —  She  shall   be 

yours ; 
And  here  she  sleeps,  until  her  wits  be  sound. 

\^He  spreads  his  cloak  over  her y  gent ly~\ 
The  sun  's  still  high.   'T  is  barely  afternoon.  — 

\_Looks  at  the  sunshine.    A  thought  strikes 
him  with  sudden  dismay] 
'T  is  —  no,  the  time  is  going  !  —  On  my  life, 
I  had  forgot  Them !  —  And  They  will  not  stay 
After  the  Rainbow  fades. 

Michael 

[confounded] 

Art  thou  moon-mad  ? 

Piper 

[madly] 

No.  Stir  not !  Keep  her  safe  !  I  come  anon. 
But  first  I  go.  —  They'll  not  mind  Cheat-the- 

Devil! 
They  '11  creep,  to  find  out  where  the  Rainbow 

went. 
I  know  them  !  So  would  I  !  — They  '11  all  leak 

out! 


The    Piper  105 

Michael 

Stay  —  stay ! 

Piper 
No  ;  guard  her,  you  !  —  Anon,  anon  ! 

Michael 
But  you  will  pipe  her  up  and  after  you  ! 

Piper 

[Jlinging  him  the  pipe  from  his  belf\ 

Do  you  fear  this?   Then  keep  it  till  I  come. 
You  bide  !  —  The  Other  cannot. 

Michael 

Who? 

Piper 

The  Rainbow, 
The  Rainbow  I  — 

[He  runs  madly  up  the  hillside,  and  away."] 
Curtain 


Act  III 


Act   III 

Scene  :  The  same^  later.  Barbara  lies  motionless, 
still  sleeping.  —  Michael,  sitting  on  the 
bank  opposite,  fingers  the  pipe  with  awe  and 
wistfulness.  He  blows  softly  upon  it;  then 
looks  at  the  girl  hopefully.  She  does  not  stir. 

Enter  the  Piper,  from  the  hills  at  back.  He 
carries  a  pair  of  water-jars  slung  over  his 
shoulders,  and  seems  to  be  in  high  feather. 

Piper 

Isinging'] 

^^UT  of  your  cage, 
I      M  Come  out  of  your  cage 
^"^    And  take  your  soul  on  a  pilgrimage! 
Pease  in  your  shoes,  an  if  you  must  I  — 
But  out  and  away,  before  you're  dust: 
Scribe  and  Stay-at-home, 
Saint  and  Sage, 
Out  of  your  cage. 
Out  of  your  cage  ! — 


iio  The    Piper 

\_He  feigns  to  be  terror-struck  at  sight  of  the 
pipe  in  Michael's  hands'] 
Ho,  help!  Good   Michael,  Michael,  loose  the 

charm  ! 
Michael,  have  mercy  !  I  'm  bewitched  !  — 

Michael 

\_giving  him  the  pipe~\ 

Cock's  faith  ! 
Still  mocking  !  —  Well  ye  know,  it  will  not  play 
Such  games  for  me. 

Piper 

Be  soothed,  —  'twas  as  I  guessed. 
\Uns lings  the  jars~\ 
All    of    them     hungry,  —  and    the    Rainbow 

going;  — 
And  Cheat-the-Devil  pining  in  a  corner. 
'Twas  well  I  went:  they  were  for  leaking  out. 
And  then,  —  lopped  ears  for  two! 

Michael 

Oh,  that  will  come. 
Piper 
Never  believe  it !  We  have  saved  her,  look  you ; 


The    Piper  iii 

We  save  them  all  !  No  prison  walls  again, 
For  anything  so  young,  in  Hamelin  there. 
Wake  her,  and  see. 

Michael 

Ay,  wake  her.   But  for  me. 
Her  sleep  is  gentler. 

Piper 

[comfortingly] 

Nay,  but  wait.  —  Good  faith, 
Wait.  We  have  broke  the  bars  of  iron  now ; 
Still  there  are  golden  !  —  'Tis  her  very  self 
Is  caged  within  herself  Once  coax  her  out. 
Once  set  her  own  heart  free  !  — 

Michael 

Wake  her,  and  see  ! 
\_The  Piper  crosses^  humming.'] 

Piper 

Mind  your  eyes,  tune  your  tongue  1 

Let  it  never  be  said,  but  sung,  but  sung, 

*  Out  of  your  cage,  out  of  your  cage  I  * 

Maiden,  maiden, — 


112  The    Piper 

\_He  wakes  her  gently.  Barbara  sits   up, 
plainly  bewildered;  then  she  sees  the  Piper, 

and  says  happily  :  — 

Barbara 

Oh  !  —  you  have  come  to  save  me.   They  are 

gone. 
All  this,  for  love  of  me  ! 

Piper 

^ruefully"] 

No,  no  —  I  — No! 

Barbara 

You  —  you  are  robbers  ? 
[Her  hands  go  to  the  pearls  about  her  neck."] 

Piper 

[indignant'] 

No  !  Blood  on  the  Moon  1 
This  is  the  maddest  world  I  ever  blinked  at. — 
Fear  nothing,  maiden.  I  will  tell  you  all. 
Come,  sit  you  down ;   and  Michael  shall  keep 
watch 


The    Piper  113 

From  yonder  hillock,  lest  that  any  pass. 

Fear  nothing.    None  will  pass  :   they  are   too 

sure 
The   Devil    hath    this    cross-ways  !  —  Sit  you 

down. 
Michael  watches ^  with  jealous  wistfulness, 

from  the  road  {left  rear).  —  Barbara  half 

fearfully  sits  up,  on  the  bank  by  the  welL 

Barbara 

Not  love?  And  yet  .  .  .  you  do  not  want  my 

pearls  ? 
Then  why  — 

Piper 

For  why  should  all  be  love  or  money  ? 

Money!  Oho,  —  that  mouldy  thousand  guil- 
ders 

You  think  of!  —  But  it  was  your  Hamelin 
friends 

That  loved  the  guilders,  and  not  I. 

Barbara 

Then  why  — 
Why  did  you  steal  me  hence  ? 


114  The    Piper 

Piper 

Why  did  yourself 
Long  to  be  stolen  ? 

Barbara 

Ah !  to  be  shut  up  .  .  . 
Forever,  —  young  —  alive  ! 

Piper 

Alive  and  singing ; 
Young,  —  young;  —  and  four  thick  walls  and 

no  more  sun, 
No  music,  and  no  wandering,  and  no  life  ! 
Think  you,  I  would  not  steal  all  things  alive 
Out  of  such  doom  ?  —  How  can  I  breathe  and 

laugh 
While   there  are  things  in  cages  ?  —  You  are 

free; 
And  you  shall  never  more  go  back  again. 

Barbara 
And  you,  who  are  you  then  ? 


The    Piper  115 

Piper 

How  do  /  know? 
Moths  in    the   Moon!  —  Ask  me  a  thing  in 
reason. 

Barbara 
And  't  was  not  .  .  .  that  you  loved  me. 

Piper 

Loved  thee  ?  No  !  — 
Save  but  along  with  squirrels,  and  bright  fish. 
And  bubbling  water. 

Barbara 

Then  where  shall  I  go  ? 

Piper 

Oh,  little  bird,  —  is  that  your  only  song? 

Go  ?     Everywhere !     Here    be    no    walls,    no 

hedges. 
No  tolls,  no  taxes,  —  rats  nor  aldermen  ! 
Go,  say  you  ?    Round   the  world,  and   round 

again  ! 

—  Ah,  she  was  Hamelin-born. 


ii6  The    Piper 

[_He  watches  her] 

But  there's  a  man, — 
Sky-true,  sword-strong,  and  brave  to  look  upon  ; 
One  that  would  thrust  his   hand  in  dragon's 

mouth 
For  your  bright  sake ;  one  that  would  face  the 

Devil, 
Would  swallow  fire  — 

Barbara 
You  would? 

Piper 

[^desperate/yl 

/?  — No,  noti! 
Michael,  —  yon  goodman  Michael. 

Barbara 

l_i?itterly] 

A   stroller  !  —  oh,  nought  but   a   wandering 
man. 

Piper 
Well,  would  you  have  a  man  take  root,  I  ask  ? 


The    Piper  117 

Barbara 

That  swallows  swords.  .  .  . 

Piper 

Is  he  a  comely  man  ? 

Barbara 

That  swallows  swords  !  — 

Piper 

What 's  manlier  to  swallow  ? 

Did  he  but  swallow  pancakes,  were  that  praise  ? 

Pancakes  and  sausage,  like  your  Hamelin  yo- 
kels? 

He  swallows  fire  and  swords,  I  say,  and  more. 

And  yet  this  man  hath  for  a  whole  noon- 
hour 

Guarded  you  while  you  slept;  —  still  as  a  dove. 

Distant  and  kind  as  shadow ;  giant-strong 

For  his  enchanted  princess,  —  even  you. 

Barbara 

So  you  bewitched  me,  then. 


ii8  The    Piper 

Piper 

\_wildly~\ 

How  do  I  know  ? 

Barbara 

Where  are  the  children  ? 

Piper 

I  '11  not  tell  you  that. 
You  are  too  much  of  Hamelin. 

Barbara 

You  bewitched  them  ! 

Piper 

Yes,  so  it  seems.  But  how  ?  —  Upon  my  life, 
*T  is  more  than  I  know,  —  yes,  a  little  more. 
\_Rapidly :  half  in  earnest  and  half  in  whimsy\ 
Sometimes  it  works,  and  sometimes  no.  There 

are 
Some  things  upon  my  soul,  I  cannot  do. 
\JVatching  herJ] 


The    Piper  119 

Barbara 

\_expectantly'\ 

Not  even  with  thy  pipe? 

Piper 

Not  even  so. 
Some  are  too  hard.  —  Yet,  yet,  I  love  to  try : 

And  most,  to  try  with  all  the  hidden  charms 
I  have,  that  I  have  never  counted  through. 

Barbara 

\J'ascinated^ 

Where  are  they  ? 

Piper 

\jouching  his  hearf\ 

Here. 

Barbara 

What  are  they  ? 

Piper 

How  do  I  know? 
If  I  knew  all,  why  should  I  care  to  live  ? 


120  The    Piper 

No,  no !    The    game  is   What-Will-Happen- 
Next? 

Barbara 
And  what  will  happen  ? 

Piper 

\jantalizmgly~\ 

Ah  !  how  do  I  know? 
It  keeps  me  searching.   'T  is  so  glad  and  sad 
And  strange  to  find  out,  What- Will-Happen- 
Next ! 
And  mark  you  this  :  the  strangest  miracle  .  ,   , 

Barbara 
Yes!  — 

Piper 

Stranger  than  the  Devil  or  the  Judgment; 
Stranger  than  piping,  —  even  when  /  pipe  ! 
Stranger  than  charming  mice — or  even  men  — 

Barbara 

\_with  tense  expectancy^ 

What  is  it  ?  What  ? 


The    Piper  i2i 

Piper 

[watching  her\ 

Why,  —  what  may  come  to  pass 
Here  in  the  heart.  There  is  one  very  charm  — 

Barbara 
Oh! 

Piper 

Are  you  brave  ? 

Barbara 
[awe-struck~\ 

Oh! 

Piper 

[slowly^ 

Will  you  drink  the  philter  ? 

Barbara 
'Tis  .  .  .  some  enchantment? 

Piper 
[mysteriously^ 

'T  is  a  love  philter. 


122  The    Piper 

Barbara 

Oh,  tell  me  first  — 

Piper 

Why,  sooth,  the  only  charm 
In  it,  is  Love.   It  is  clear  well-water. 

Barbara 

\_disappointed'\ 

Only  well-water  ? 

Piper 

Love  is  only  Love. 
It  must  be  philters,  then  ? 

\_He   comes   down   smiling   and    beckons    to 
Michael,  who  draws  near^  bewildered. 
This  lady  thirsts 
For  magic ! 

[He  ties  a  long  green  scarf  that  he  has  over 
his  shoulder y  to  a  water-jar y  and  lowers  it 
down  the  old  well ;  while  Barbara  watches, 
awe-struck.  He  continues  to  sing  softly, ' 

Mind  your  eyes, 
^    ^une your  tongue; 


The    Piper  123 

Let  it  never  be  saidj 
But  sung,  —  but  sung  !  — 


Michael 

\jo  Barbara,  timidly] 

I  am  glad  at  least,  fair  lady, 
To  think  how  my  poor  show  did  give  you  plea- 
sure 
That  day  —  that  day  when —    . 

Barbara 

Ah  !  that  day  of  doom  ! 

Michael 
What  is  your  will  ? 

Barbara 

\_passionately\ 

I  know  not ;  and  I  care  not ! 
\_Apart'] 
Oh,  it  is  true.  —  And  he  a  sword-eater ! 
[The  Piper  hauls  up  the  jar ,  full  of  water  ^ 


1 24  The     Piper 

Piper 

Michael,  your  cup. 

[Michael  gives  him  a  drinking-horn  from 
his  belt.  The  Piper  fills  it  with  water, 
solemnly,  and  turns  to  Barbara,  who  is 
at  first  defiant,  then  fascinated. 

Maiden,  your  ears.  So:  —  hearken. 
Before  you  drink  of  this,  is  it  your  will 
Forever  to  be  gone  from  Hamelin  ? 

Barbara 
I  must, —  I  must. 

Piper 
Your  mother? 

Barbara 

\jpiteously\ 

I  have  no  mother ; 
Nor  any  father,  more.  He  gave  me  up. 

Piper 

That  did    he! — For  a  round    one    thousand 
guilders  ! 


The    Piper  125 

Weep  not,  I  say.  First,  loose  you,  heart  and 

shoes. 
From    Hamelin.    Put   off  now,  the  dust,  the 

mould, 
The  cobble-stones,  the  little  prying  windows  ; 
The  streets  that  dream  o'  What  the  Neighbors 

Say. 
Think  you  were  never  born  there.  Think  some 

Breath 
Wakened  you  early  — early  on  one  morning. 
Deep  in  a  Garden  (but  you  knew  not  whose), 
Where  voices  of  wild  waters  bubbling  ran, 
Shaking    down    music    from    glad    mountain- 
tops, — 
Where  the  still  peaks  were  burning  in  the  dawn. 
Like  fiery  snow,  —  down  into  greenest  valleys. 
That  do  off  their  blue  mist  only  to  show 
Some  deeper  blue,  some  haunt  of  violets. 
No  voice  you  heard,  nothing  you  felt  or  saw. 
Save  in  your  heart,  the  tumult  of  young  birds, 
A  nestful  of  wet  wings  and  morning-cries. 
Throbbing  for  flight !   .  .  . 
Then,  —  for  your  Soul,  new  wakened,  felt  athirst. 
You  turned  to  where  that  call  of  water  led. 
Laughing  for   truth,  —  all   truth  and  star-like 
laughter ! 


126  The    Piper 

Beautiful  water,  that  will  never  stay, 
But  runs  and  laughs  and  sparkles  in  the  heart, 
And  sends  live  laughter  trickling  everywhere, 
And  knows  the  thousand  longings  of  the  Earth  ! 
And  as  you  drank  it  then,  so  now,  drink  here  ; 
\_He  reaches  her  the  horn.  She  has  listened^ 
motionless,  like   a    thing    bewitched,  her 
eyes  fixed  and  wide,  as  if  she  were  sleep- 
walking.   She   drinks.    Michael   stands 
near,  also  motionless.   When  she  speaks,  it 
is  in  a  younger  voice,  shy,  sweet  and  full 
of  wonder. 
And  tell  me,  — tell  me,  you,  —  what  happened 

then  ? 
What  do  you  see  ? 

Barbara 

Ah!  — 
[She  looks  before  her  with  wide,  new  eyes."] 

Piper 
Do  you  see  —  a  — 

Barbara 

.  .  .  Michael! 


The    Piper  127 

Piper 

So !  —  And  a  good  one.  And  you  call  him  ?  — 

Barbara 

.  .  .  Michael. 

Piper 

So.  —  'Tisa  world  of  wonders,  by  my  faith!  — 
What  is  the  fairest  thing  you  see  but  — 

Barbara 

Michael. 

Piper 

And  is  he  comely  as  a  man  should  be  ? 

And  strong  ?  —  And  wears  good  promise  in  his 

eyes. 
And  keeps  it  with  his  heart  and  with  his  hands  ? 

\_She  nods  like  a  child~\ 
And  would  you  fear  to  go  with  him  ?  — 

Barbara 

No,  no ! 
Piper 
Then  reach  to  him  that  little  hand  of  yours. 


128  The    Piper 

[Michael,  wonder-struck,  runs  to  the  jar, 
pours  water  upon  his  hand,  rubs  it  off  with 
haste,  and  falls  on  his  knees  before  her,  tak- 
ing her  hand  fearfully, 

Barbara 
\_timidly\ 

And  can  he  talk  ?  — 

Piper 

Yes,  yes.  —  The  maid's  bewildered. 
Fear  nothing.  Thou'rt  so  dumb,  man  !  —  Yes, 

yes,  yes. 
Only  he  kneels  ;  he  cannot  yet  believe. 
Speak  roundly  to  him.  —  Will  you  go  with  him? 
He  will  be  gentler  to  you  than  a  father: 
He  would  be  brothers  five,  and  dearest  friend. 
And  sweetheart, —  ay,  and  knight  and  serving- 
man  ! 

Barbara 
Yes,  yes,  I  know  he  will.  And  can  he  talk,  too  ? 

Piper 
Lady,  you  have  bewitched  him. 


The    Pip  e  r  129 

Michael 

Oh  !  dear  Lady, 
With   you — with   you,    I    dare    not    ope    my 

mouth 
Saving  to  sing,  or  pray  ! 

Piper 

Let  it  be  singing  ! 
Lad,  't  is  a  wildered  maiden,  with  no  home 
Save  only  thee  ;  and  she  is  more  a  child 
Than  yesterday. 

Michael 

Oh,  lordly,  wondrous  world !  — 
How  is  it,  Sweet,  you  smile  upon  me  now  ? 

Barbara 

Sure  I  have  ever  smiled  on  thee.    How  not  ? 
Art  thou  not  Michael  ?  —  And  thou  lovest  me. 
And  I  love  thee  I  —  If  I  unloved  thee  ever, 
It  was  some  spell. — 

\Rapturou5ly\ 

But  this,  —  ah,  T^his  is  If 
[Michael,  on   his  knees ^  winds  his  arms 
about  her. 


130  The    Piper 

Piper 

Isofi/y} 

It  is  all  true,  —  all  true.   Lad,  do  not  doubt; 
The  golden  cage  is  broken. 

Michael 

Oh  !  more  strange 
Than  morning  dreams!  I  am  like  one  new-born; 
I  am  a  speechless  babe.  —  And  this  is  she. 
My  Moon  I  cried  for,  —  here, — 

Piper 

It  is  thy  bride. 

Michael 
Thou  wilt  not  fear  to  come  with  me  ? 

Barbara 

With  thee  ? 
With  thee  !  Ah,  look!  What  have  I  more  than 

thee? 
And  thou  art  mine,  tall  fellow  !   How  comes  it 

now 
Right  happily  that  I  am  pranked  so  fair! 

[She  touches   her  fineries^   her  long  pearl- 
strings^  joyously~\ 


The    Piper  131 

And  all  this  came  so  near  to  burying; 
This! 

Michael 

And  this  dearer  gold. 

[^Kissing  her  hair.'] 

Barbara 

All,  all  for  thee!  — 

\_She  leans  over  in  a  playful  rapture  and 
binds  her  hair  about  hint] 
Look, —  I  will  be  thy  garden  that  we  lost. 
Yea,  everywhere,  —  in  every  wilderness. 
There    shall    none   fright    us    with   a    flaming 

sword ! 
But  I  will  be  thy  garden  ! 

\jrhere  is  the  sound  of  a  herd-bell  approach- 
ing. 

Piper 

See,  —  how  the   sunlight   soon  shall  pour  red 

wine 
To  make  your  marriage-feast  !  —  And  do  you 

hear 
That  faery  bell?  —  No  fear!  —  'T  is  some  white 

creature. 


132  The    Piper 

Seeking  her  whiter  lamb. —  Go;  find  our  her- 
mit; 

And  he  shall  bless  you, —  as  a  hermit  can! 

And  be  your  pledge  for  shelter.  There's  the 
path.  — 

[To  Michael] 

Follow  each  other,  close! 

Michael 

Beyond  the  Sun  I 

Piper 

A  golden  afternoon, —  and  all  is  well ! 

[He  gives  Michael  bis  cloak  to  wrap 
round  Barbara.  They  go^  hand  in  hand, 
up  into  the  hills.  The  herd-bell  sounds 
softly.  —  The  Piper  cocks  his  head  like 
a  squirrel^  and  listens  with  delight.  He 
watches  the  two  till  they  disappear ;  then 
comes  down  joyously. 

Piper 

If  you  can  only  catch  them  while  they 're  young  ! 

\The  herd-bell  sounds  nearer.  He  lets  down 

a    water-jar    into    the  well  again.    The 


The    Piper  133 

nearness  of  the  bell  startles  him.  He  be- 
comes watchful  as  a  wild  creature.  It 
sounds  nearer  and  nearer.  A  woman  s  voice 
calls  like  the  wind:  '  Jan  !  Jan ! '  — 
'The  Piper,  tense  and  cautious^  moves  softly 
down  into  the  shrubbery  by  the  well, 

Veronika's  voice 
Jan! 

Piper 
Hist!  Who  dared? 

Veronika's  voice 

...  Jan  !  — 

Piper 

Who  dared,  I  say? 
A  woman.  —  'T  is  a  woman  ! 

\_Enter  Veronika,  on  the  road  from  Hame- 
lin.  She  is  very  pale  and  worn,  and  drags 
herself  along,  clutching  in  her  hand  a 
herd-bell.  She  looks  about  her,  holds  up 
the  bell  and  shakes  it  once  softly,  covering 
it  with  her  fingers  again ;  then  she  sits 
wearily  down  at  the  foot  of  the  ruined 


134  The    Piper 

shrine^  and  covers  her  face^  with  a  sharp 
breath. 

Veronika  • 

.  .  .  Ah,  —  ah,  — ah! 
\^he  Piper  watches  with  breathless  wonder 
and  fascination.  It  seems  to  horrify  him. 

Piper 

\under  breath'] 
That  woman  ! 

[Veronika  lifts  her  head  suddenly  and  sees 
the  motion  of  the  bushes. 

Veronika 

He  is  coming  !  —  He  is  here  ! 
\_She  darts  towards  the  well.  —  'The  Piper 
springs  up. 

Oh,  God  of  Mercy!  ...  It  is  only  you! 
Where  is  he  ?  —  Where  ?  —  Where  are  you  hid- 
ing him  ? 

Piper 

\_confusedly~\ 

Woman  .  .  .  what  do  you,  wandering,  with  that 

bell? 
That  herd-bell? 


The    Piper  135 

Veronika 

Oh  !  are  you  man  or  cloud  ?  .  .  .  Where  is  my 

Jan  ? 
Jan,  —  Jan,  —  the  little  lame  one  !   He  is  mine. 
He  lives,  I  know  he  lives.   I  know  —  yes,  yes, 
You  've  hidden  him.  I  will  be  patient.  —  Yes. 

Piper 
Surely  he  lives  ! 

Veronika 

—  Lives  !  will  you  swear  it  ?  Ah,  — 
I  will  believe !  But  he  ...  is  not  so  strong 
As  all  the  others. 

Piper 
[aparf~\ 

Aie,  how  horrible ! 
[5^0  her"] 
Sit  you  down  here.  You  cannot  go  away 
While  you  are  yet  so  pale.   Why  are  you  thus? 
[She  looks  at  him  distractedly^ 

Veronika 
You,  who  have  torn  the  hearts  out  of  our  bodies 


136  The    Piper 

And  left  the  city  like  a  place  of  graves,  — 
Why  am  I  spent  ? — Ah,  ah  !  —  But  he  's  alive ! 
Yes,  yes,  he  's  living. 

Piper 

Oh,  how  horrible  ! 
Why  should  he  not  be  living  ?  —  What  am  I  ? 

Veronika 
I  do  not  know. 

Piper 
Do  you  take  me  for  the  Devil  ? 

Veronika 
I  do  not  know. 

Piper 
Yet  you  were  not  afraid  ? 

Veronika 
What  is  there  now  to  fear  ? 

Piper 

[^waubing  ber] 

Where  are  the  townsfolk  ? 


The    Piper  137 

Veronika 
They  are  all  gone  to  Rudershelm  .  .  . 

Piper 

[sti/I  watchfur\ 

How  so? 

Veronika 

Where,  for  a  penance,  Barbara,  Jacob's  daugh- 
ter. 
Will  take  the  veil.   His  one,  for  all  of  ours ! 
It  will  be  over  now. 

Piper 
Have  none  returned  ? 

Veronika 
I  know  not ;  I  am  searching,  since  the  dawn. 

Piper 

To-day  ? 

Veronika 
And  every  day. 


138  The    Piper 

Piper 

That  herd-bell,  there  — 
Why  do  you  bring  it? 

Veronika 

Oh,  he  loves  them  so. 
I  knew,  if  he  but  heard  it,  he  would  follow  — 

Piper 
No  more.  1  know  ! 

Veronika 

An  if  he  could  ! 

Piper 

\_Iike  a  wounded  antmal~\ 

You  hurt  me 
Somewhere,  —  you  hurt  me! 

Veronika 

You  !  —  A  man  of  air  ? 

Piper 
What,  am  I  that  ? 


The    Piper  139 

Veronika 

What  are  you  ?  —  Give  them  back  ! 
Give  them  to  me,  I  say.  You  have  them  hidden. 
Are  they  all  living  ? 

Piper 

[struggling  with  pity~\ 

Yes,  yes. 

Veronika 

Give  them  back ! 

Piper 

No. 

Veronika 
But  they  live,  they  live  ? 

Piper 
—  Wilt  thou  believe  me  ? 

Veronika 
And  are  they  safe? 


140  The    Piper 

Piper 
Yes. 

Veronika 

And  you  hide  them  ? 

Piper 

Yes. 

Veronika 

And  are  they  .  .  .  warm  ? 

Piper 

—  Yes. 

Veronika 

Are  they  happy?  —  Oh, 
That  cannot  be!  —  But  do  they  laugh,  some- 
times ? 

Piper 
Yes. 

Veronika 

— Then  you'll  give  them  back  again! 


HE     Piper 

141 

Piper 

No,  never. 

Veronika 
\_Halfto  hers  elf y  distraught  between  suspense 
and  hope'] 
I  must  be  patient. 

Piper 

Woman,  they  all  are  mine. 
I  hold  them  in  my  hands ;  they  bide  with  me. 
What 's  breath  and  blood, — what  are  the  hearts 

of  children. 
To  Hamelin,  —  while  it  heaps  its  money-bags? 

Veronika 

You  cared  not  for  the  money. 

Piper 

No?  —  You  seem 
A  foreign  woman,  —  come  from  very  far, 
That  you  should  know. 

Veronika 

I  know.  I  was  not  born 
There.  But  you  wrong  them.  There  were  yet 
a  few 


142  The    Piper 

Who  would  have  dealt  with  you  more  honestly 
Than  this  Jacobus,  or  — 

Piper 

Or  Kurt  the  Syndic! 
Believe  it  not.  Those  two  be  tongue  and  brain 
For  the  whole  town  !  I  know  them.  And  that 

town 
Stands  as  the  will  of  other  towns,  a  score, 
That  make  us  wandering  poor  the  things  we  are! 
It  stands  for  all,  unto  the  end  of  time. 
That  turns  this  bright  world  black  and  the  Sun 

cold, 
With    hate,    and     hoarding;  —  all-triumphant 

Greed 
That  spreads  above  the  roots  of  all  despair. 
And  misery,  and  rotting  of  the  soul ! 
Now    shall    they    learn — if  money-bags    can 

learn  — 
What  turns  the  bright  world  black,  and  the  Sun 

cold  ; 
And  what 's  that  creature  that  they  call  a  child  !  — 
And  what  this  winged  thing  men  name  a  heart 
Beating  queer  rhythms  that  they  long  to  kill. — 
What  is  this  hunger  and  this  thirst  to  sing. 
To  laugh,  to  fight,  —  to  hope,  to  be  believed? 


The    Piper  143 

And  what  is  truth  ?  And  who  did  make  the  stars  ? 

I  have  to  pay  for  fifty  thousand  hates, 
Greeds,  cruelties ;  such  barbarous  tortured  days 
A  tiger  would  disdain  ;  —  for  all  my  kind  ! 
Not  my  one  mother,  not  my  own  of  kin, — 
All,  all,  who  wear  the  motley  in  the  heart 
Or  on  the  body  : —  for  all  caged  glories 
And  trodden    wings,    and  sorrows  laughed  to 

scorn. 
I,  — I!  — At  last. 

Veronika 

Ah,  me  !    How  can  I  say: 
Yet  make  them  happier  than  they  let  you  be? 

Piper 

Woman,  you  could  ! — They  know  not  how  to  be 
Happy!  They  turn  to  darkness  and  to  woe 
All  that  is  made  for  joy.   They  deal  with  men 
As,  far  across  the  mountains,  in  the  south. 
Men  trap  a  singing  thrush,  put  out  his  eyes, — 
And  cage  him  up  and  bid  him  then  to  sing  — 
Sing  before  God  that  made  him,  —  yes,  to  sing  ! 

I  save  the  children.  —  Yes,  I  save  them,  so, 


144  The    Piper 

Save  them  forever,  who  shall  save  the  world  !  — 
Yes,  even  Hamelln.  — 

But  for  only  you. 
What  do  they  know  of  Children  ?  —  Pfui,  their 

own  I 
Who  knows  a  treasure,  when  It  Is  his  own  ? 
Do  they  not  whine  :  *  Five  mouths  around  the 

table ; 
And  a  poor  harvest.   And  now  comes  one  morel 
God  chastens  usV  —  Pfui  !  — 

Veronika 

\_apart,  dully] 

.  .  .  But  I  must  be  patient. 

Piper 

You  know,  you  know,  that  not  one  dared,  save 

you,— 
Dared  all  alone,  to  search  this  devil's  haunt. 

Veronika 
They  would  have  died  — 

Piper 

But  never  risked  their  souls  ! 
That  knew  I  also. 


The    Piper  145 

Veronika 
Ah! 

Piper 

*  Young  faces,'  sooth, 
The  old  ones  prate  of !  —  Bah,  what  is 't  they 

want? 
*  Some  one  to  work  for  me,  when  I  am  old ; 
Some  one  to  follow  me  unto  my  grave ; 
Some  one  —  for  me  ! '  Yes,  yes.  There  is  not 

one 
Old  huddler-by-the-fire  would  shift  his  seat 
To  a  cold  corner,  if  it  might  bring  back 
All  of  the  Children  in  one  shower  of  light ! 

Veronika 
The  old,  ah,  yes !   But  not  — 

Piper 

The  younger  men  ? 
Aha  !  Their  pride  to  keep  the  name  alive ; 
The  name,  the  name,  the  little  Hamelin  name. 
Tied  to  the  trade ;  —  carved  plain  upon  his 
gravestone ! 


146  The    Piper 

Wonderful !  If  your  name  must  chain  you,  live. 
To  your  gaol  of  a  house,  your  trade  you  love 

not,  —  why, 
Best  go  without  a  name,  like  me  !  —  How  now? 
"Woman,  —  you  suffer? 

Veronika 

Ah,  yet  could  I  laugh, 
Piper,  yet  could  I  laugh,  for  one  true  word, — 
But  not  of  all  men. 

Piper 

Then  of  whom  ? 

Veronika 

Of  Kurt, 

Piper 

Bah,  Kurt  the  Councillor!  a  man  to  curse. 

Veronika 
He  is  my  husband. 

Piper 

[shortly] 

Thine  ?  I  knew  it  not. 


The    Piper  147 

Thine?  But  it  cannot  be.   He  could  not  father 
That  Httle  Jan,  —  that  little  shipwrecked  Star. 

Veronika 
Oh,  then  you  love  him  ?  You  will  give  him  back? 

Piper 
The  son  of  Kurt  ? 

Veronika 

No,  not  his  son  !  No,  no. 
He  is  all  mine,  all  mine.  Kurt's  sons  are  straight, 
And  ruddy,  like  Kurt's  wife  of  Hamelin  there. 
Who  died  before. 

Piper 

And  you  were  wed  .  .  . 

Veronika 

So  young. 
It  is  all  like  some  dream  before  the  sunrise, 
That  left  me  but  that  little  shipwrecked  Star. 

Piper 

Why  did  you  marry  Kurt  the  Councillor? 


148  T  H  E      P  I  P  E  R 

Veronika 

He  wanted  me.  Once  I  was  beautiful. 

Piper 

[wondering  ly] 

What,  more  than  now  ? 

Veronika 
Mock  if  you  will. 

Piper 

I  mock  you ! 

0  Woman,  ,  .  .  you  are  very  beautiful. 

Veronika 

1  meant,  with  my  poor  self,  to  buy  him  house 
And  warmth,  and  softness  for  his  little  feet. 
Oh,  then  I  knew  not,  —  when  we  sell  our  hearts, 
We  buy  us  nothing. 

Piper 

Now  you  know. 


The     Piper  149 

Veronika 

I  know. 
His  dearest  home  it  was,  to  keep  my  heart 
Alone  and  beautiful,  and  clear  and  still ; 
And  to  keep  all  the  gladness  in  my  heart, 
That   bubbled    from    nowhere !  —  for   him    to 

drink;  — 
And  to  be  houseless  of  all  other  things. 
Even  as  the  Lonely  Man. 

[T'he  Piper  starts'] 

Where  is  the  child? 

Piper 

No;  that  I  will  not  tell.   Only  thus  much: 
I  love  thy  child.   Trust  me,  —  I  love  them,  all. 
They  are  the  brightest  miracle  I  know. 
Wherever  I  go,  I  search  the  eyes  of  men 
To  find  such  clearness  ; — and  it  is  not  there. 
Lies,  greed  and  cruelty,  and  dreadful  dark ! 
And  all  that  makes  Him  sad  these  thousand 

years. 
And  keeps  His  forehead  bleeding. — Ah,  you 

know ! 

Veronika 

Whom  do  you  think  on  ? 


150  The    Piper 

Piper 

Why,  the  Lonely  Man. — 
But  now  I  have  the  children  safe  with  me; 
And  men  shall   never   teach   them  what    men 

know ;  — 
Those  radiant  things  that  have  no  wish  at  all 
Save  for  what  is  all-beautiful  !  —  the  Rainbow, 
The  running  Water,  and  the  Moon,  the  Moon  ! 
The  only  things  worth  having  ! 

Veronika 

—  Oh,  you  will  not 
Give  him  to  me  ? 

Piper 

How  give  you  yours  again, 
And  not  the  others  ?  What  a  life  for  him  ! 

\_She  hides  her  face~\ 
And  Kurt  the  Syndic,  left  without  his  sons  ? 
Bah,  do  not  dream  of  it !  What  would  Kurt 

do?  — 
And  hearken  here  !   Should  any  hunt  me  down, 
Take  care.  Who  then  could  bring  the  children 
back  ? 

Veronika 
Jan!  Jan! 


The    Piper  151 

Piper 
He  loves  me.  He  is  happy. 

Veronika 
\_pas3i0nately  ] 

No! 
Without  me  ?  —  No. 

Piper 

He  has  not  even  once 
Called  you. 

Veronika 
[staggering] 

Ah,  ah !  how  cruel !  'T  is  the  spell, 
The  spell. 

Piper 

[touching  bis  heart] 

■    — You    hurt    me,    here.    What    makes    it, 

Woman  ?  — 
Would  you  not  have  him  happy  ^ 

Veronika 

O  my  God ! 


152  The    Piper 

Piper 

\offering  her  water] 

Drink  here.  Take  heart.  O  Woman,  they  must 

stay! 
'T  is  better  so.  No,  no,  I  mock  thee  not. 
Thou  foldest  all  about  me  like  the  Dark 
That  holds  the  stars.   I  would  I  were  thy  child. 

Veronika 
But  I  will  find  him.  I  will  find  him  — 

Piper 

No, 
It  must  not  be  !  Their  life  is  bound  with  mine. 
If  I  be  harmed,  they  perish.  Keep  that  word. 
Go,  go ! 

Veronika 
[^passionately'] 

My  longing  will  bring  back  my  Own. 

Piper 
Ah,  long  not  so. 


The    Piper  153 

Veronika 

Yes,  it  will  bring  him  back ! 
He  breathes.  And  I  will  wish  him  home  to  me. 
Till  my  heart  break  ! 

,  Piper 

Hearts  never  break  in  Hamelin. 
Go,  then;  and  teach  those  other  ones  to  long; 
Wake  up  those  dead ! 

Veronika 
Peace.   I  shall  draw  him  home. 

Piper 
Not  till  he  cries  for  thee. 

Veronika 

Oh,  that  will  be 
Soon,  —  soon. 

Piper 

Igentfy'] 

Remember, —  if  one  word  of  thine 
Set  on  the  hounds  to  track  me  down  and  slay  me. 


154  The    Piper 

They  will  be  lost  forever;  they  would  die, — 
They,  who  are  in  my  keeping. 

Veronika 

Yea,  I  hear. 
But  he  will  come  .  .  .  oh,  he  will  come  to  me. 
Soon,  —  soon. 

[She  goes,  haltinglyy  and  disappears  along 
the  road  to  Hamelin.  —  The  Piper,  alone, 
stands  spell-bound,  breathing  hard,  and 
looking  after  her.  'Then  he  turns  his  head 
and  comes  down,  doggedly.  Again  he 
pauses.  With  a  sudden  sharp  effort  he 
turns,  and  crosses  with  passionate  appeal 
to  the  shrine,  his  arm  uplifted  towards 
the  carven  Christ  as  if  he  warded  off  some 
accusation.    His  speech  comes  in  a  torrent. 

Piper 

I  will  not,  no,  I  will  not.  Lonely  Man  ! 
I  have  them  in  my  hand.   I  have  them  all  — 
All  — all !  And  I  have  lived  unto  this  day. 
You  understand  .  .  . 

\He  waits  as  if  for  some  reply"] 

You  know  what  men  they  are. 
And  what  have  they  to  do  with  such  as  these  ? 


The     Piper  155 

Think  of  those  old  as  death,  in  body  and  heart, 
Huorging  their  wretched  hoardings,  in  cold  fear 
Of  moth  and  rust !  —  While  these  miraculous 

ones, 
Like  golden  creatures  made  of  sunset-cloud, 
Go  out  forever,  —  every  day,  fade  by 
With  music  and  wild   stars  !  —  Ah,  but  You 

know. 
The  hermit  told  me  once,  You  loved  them,  too. 
But  I  know  more  than  he,  how  You  must  love 

them  : 
Their    laughter,   and    their    bubbling,  skylark 

words 
To  cool  Your  heart.  Oh,  listen.  Lonely  Man  !  — 

Oh,  let  me  keep  them  !   I  will  bring  them  to  You, 
Still  nights,  and  breathless  mornings  ;  they  shall 

touch 
Your  hands  and  feet  with  all  their  swarming 

hands, 
Like     showering     petals    warm    on    furrowed 

ground,  — 
All  sweetness!    They  will  make   Thee  whole 

again. 
With  love.  Thou  wilt  look  up  and  smile  on  us! 


156  The    Piper 

Why  not?   I  know —  the   half — You  will  be 
saying. 

You  will  be  thinking  of  Your  Mother.  —  Ah, 

But  she  was  different.   She  was  not  as  they. 

She  was  more  like  .  .  .  this  one,  the  wife  of 
Kurt! 

Of  Kurt  I  No,  no;  ask  me  not  this,  not  this  ! 

Here   is   some  dawn  of  day  for   Hamelin, — 
now  ! 

'T  is  hearts  of  men  You  want.  Not  mumbled 
prayers ; 

Not  greed  and  carven  tombs,  not  misers'  candles ; 

No  offerings,  more,   from   men   that   feed   on 
men; 

Eternal  psalms  and  endless  cruelties  !  .  .  . 

Even  from  now,  there  may  be  hearts  in  Ham- 
elin, 

Once  stabbed  awake! 

\_He pleads,  defends,  excuses  passionately  ;  be- 
fore his  will  gives  way,  as  the  arrow  flies 
from  the  bow-string. ~\ 

—  /  will  not  give  them  back  ! 

And  Jan,  —  for  Jan,  that  little  one,  that  dearest 

To  Thee  and  me,  hark,  —  he  is  wonderful. 

Ask  it  not  of  me.  Thou  dost  know  I  cannot  I 


The    Piper  157 

Look,  Lonely  Man  !  You  shall  have  all  of  us 
To  wander  the  world  over,  where  You  stand 
At  all  the  crossways,  and  on  lonely  hills, — 
Outside    the    churches,    where    the    lost    ones 

go  !  — 
And  the  wayfaring  men,  and  thieves  and  wolves 
And  lonely  creatures,  and  the  ones  that  sing! 
We  will  show  all  men  what  we  hear  and  see ; 
And  we  will  make  Thee  lift  Thy  head,  and 

smile. 

No,  no,  I  cannot  give  them  all !   No,  no.  — 
Why  wilt  Thou  ask  it  ?  —  Let  me  keep  but  one. 
No,  no,  I  will  not.       .         .         .         ,         . 

,         .         .         .    Have 'Thy  way. — I  will! 


Curtain 


Act   IV 


Act   IV 

Scene  :   Hamelin  market-place. 

It  is  early  morning;  so  dark  that  only  a  bleak 
twilight  glimmers  in  the  square ;  the  little 
streets  are  dim.  Everywhere  gloom  and  still- 
ness. In  the  house  of  Kurt,  beside  the  Min- 
ster^ there  is  one  window-light  behind  a  cur- 
tain in  the  second  story.  At  the  casements^ 
down  right  and  left,  sit  Old  Claus  and 
Old  Ursula,  wan  and  motionless  as  the 
dead. 

The  church-bell,  which  likewise  seems  to  have 
aged,  croaks  softly,  twice.  Peter  the  Sacris- 
tan stands  by  the  bell-rope. 

Old  Ursula 

NO,  no.   They  '11   never  come.    I   told 
ye  so. 
They  all  are  gone.  There  will  be  no- 
thing young 
To  follow  us  to  the  grave. 


i62  The    Piper 

Old  Claus 

No,  no,  —  not  one! 
[The  Minster-door  opens^  and  out  come  cer- 
tain of  the  townsfolk  from  early  mass. 
They  look  unnaturally  old  and  colorless. 
Their  steps  lag  drearily. — Hans  the 
Butcher  and  his  wife;  Axel  the  Smith 
with  his  wife,  and  Peter  the  Cobbler y 
meet,  on  their  way  to  the  little  street ,  left, 
and  greet  one  another  with  painstaking, 
stricken  kindness.  They  speak  in  broken 
voices. 

Hans  the  Butcher 
Well,  well  — 

Axel  the  Smith 

God  knows  ! 

[The  bell  sounds~\ 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Neighbor,  how  fare  your  knees? 
[Axel  smooths  his  right  leg  and  gives  a  jerk 
of  pain.  They  all  move  stiffly. 


The     Piper  163 

Axel  the  Smith 
I*m  a  changed  man. 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Peter  the  Sacristan, 
Give  by  the  bell !  It  tolls  hke  —  Oh,  well,  well! 

Axel  the  Smith 
It  does  no  good,  it  does  no  good  at  all. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Rather,  I  do  believe  it  mads  the  demons ; 
And  I  have  given  much  thought  — 

Axel  the  Smith 

Over  thy  shoes ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
[modestly^ 
To  demons. 

Axel's  Wife 

Let  him  chirp  philosophy! 
He  had  no  children. 


164  The    Piper 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
Ij^aggi^g  his  head  solemnly^ 

I  'm  an  altered  man. 
Now  were  we  not  proceeding  soberly, 
Singing  a  godly  hymn,  and  all  in  tune. 
But  yesterday,  when  we  passed  by  — 

Hans'  Wife 

Don't  say  it! 

Don't  name  the  curseful  place. 

Hans  the  Butcher 

—  And  my  poor  head. 
It  goes  round  yet;  —  around,  around,  around. 
As  I  were  new  ashore  from  the  high  seas; 
Still  dancing  —  dancing  — 

Axel  the  Smith 
With  '  Yes  —  y es !  —  Yes  —  yes  ! ' 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Even  as  ye  heard,  the  farmer's  yokel  found  me 
Clasping  a  tree,  and  praying  to  stand  still ! 


The    Piper  165 

Axel  the  Smith 
Ay,  ay,  —  but  that  is  nought. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

All  nought  beside. 

Hans'  Wife 

Better  we  had  the  rats  and  mice  again. 
Though    they    did   eat    us   homeless,  — if  we 

might 
All    starve    together !  —  Oh,    my    Hans,    my 

Hans! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Hope  not,  good  souls.   Rest  sure,  they  will  not 
come. 

Axel's  Wife 

Who  will  say  that  ? 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
\_discreetly'\ 

Not  I ;  but  the  Inscription. 
\_He  points  to  the  Rathaus  wall^ 


i66  The    Piper 

Axel  the  Smith 
Of  our  own  making? 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

On  the  Rathaus  wall! 
At  our  own  bidding  it  was  made  and  graved :  — 
How,  —  on  that  day  and  down  this  very  street. 
He  led  them, —  he,  the  WonderfuUy-clothed, 
The  Strange  Man,  with  his  piping; 
\J['hey  cross  themsehes~\ 

And  they  went, — 
And  never  came  again. 

Hans*  Wife 

But  they  may  come  ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
\jityingly] 

Marble  is  final,  woman  ;  —  nay,  poor  soul ! 
When  once  a  man  be  buried,  and  over  him 
The  stone  doth  say  Hie  Jacet,  or  Here  Lies, 
When   did  that  man  get  up?  —  There  is  the 

stone. 
They  come  no  more,  for  piping  or  for  prayer ; 
Until  the  trump  of  the  Lord  Gabriel. 


The    Piper  167 

And  if  they  came,  't  is  not  in  Hamelin  men 
To  alter  any  stone,  so  graven.  —  Marble 
Is  final.    Marble  has  the  last  word,  ever. 
\Groans  from  the  burgher s.~\ 

Hans  the  Butcher 

O  little  Use  !  —  Oh  !  and  Lump  —  poor  Lump  ! 

More  than  a  dog  could  bear! —  More  than  a 
dog  — 
'  [They  all  break  down.     The  Shoemaker  con- 
soles them. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Bear  up,  sweet  neighbors. — We  are  all  but 
dust. 

No  mice,  no  children.  —  Hem  !  And  now  Ja- 
cobus, — 

His  child,  not  even  safe  with  Holy  Church, 

But  lost  and  God  knows  where ! 

Axel's  Wife 

Bewitched,  —  bewitched  ! 
\_Hans  and  his  wife,  arm  in  arm,  turn  left, 
towards  their  house,  peering  ahead. 


i68  The    Piper 

Hans'  Wife 

Kind  saints  !   Me  out  and  gone  to  early  mass, 
And    all    this    mortal    church-time,   there  's  a 

candle, 
A  candle  burning  in  the  casement  there ;  — 
Thou  wasteful  man  ! 

Hans  the  Butcher 
[huskily] 

Come,  come  !  Do  not  be  chiding. 
Suppose  they  came  and   could   not  see   their 

way. 
Suppose  —  Owife!  —  I  thought  they  'd  love  the 

light ! 
I  thought  — 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Ay,  now  !  And  there  's  another  light 
In  Kurt  the  Syndic's  house. 

[They  turn  and  look  up.  Other  burghers  join 
the  group.  All  walk  lamely  and  look  the 
picture  of  wretchedness. 

Axel's  Wife 

His  wife,  poor  thing. 


The    Piper  169 

The  priest  is  with  her.  Ay,  for  once,  they  say, 

Kurt's  bark  is  broken. 

Old  Ursula 

There  will  be  nothing  young 
To  follow  us  to  the  grave. 

Axel's  Wife 

They  tell,  she  seems 
Sore  stricken  since  the  day  that  she  was  lost, 
Lost,   searching  on  the  mountain.    Since  that 

time, 
She  will  be  saying  nought.  She  stares  and  smiles. 

Hans'  Wife 
And  reaches  out  her  arms,  —  poor  soul ! 

All 

Poor  soul ! 
[^Murmur   in    the   distance.    'They   do   not 
heed  it. 

Axel  the  Smith 
[To  the  Butcher] 

That  was   no    foolish    thought  of  thine,  yon 
candle. 


lyo  The    Piper 

1  do  remember  now  as  I  look  back, 
They  always  loved  the  lights.    My  Rudi  there 
Would  aye  be  meddling  with  my  tinder-box. 
And  once  I  —  Oh!  — 

[Choking] 

Axel's  Wife 

[soothingly] 

Now,  now!  thou  didst  not  hurt  him! 
'Twas  I!  Oh,  once — I  shut  him  in  the  dark  ! 

Axel  the  Smith 
Come  home  .  .  .  and  light  the  candles. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

In  the  day-time  ! 

Axel's  Wife 
Oh,  it  is  dark  enough  ! 

Axel  the  Smith 

Lord  knows,  who  made 
Both  night  and  day,  one  of 'em  needs  to  shine  ! 
But  nothing  does  !  —  Nothing  is  daylight  now. 
Come,  wife,  we  '11  light  the  candles. 

[Exit  with  his  wife. 


The     Piper  171 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

He  's  a  changed  man. 

Peter  the  Sacristan 

God  help  us,  what 's  to  do  ? 

[Tumult  approaching.   Shouts  of  *  Jacobus ' 
and  ^  Barbara.^ 

Hark! 

Hans'  Wife 

Neighbors ! 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Hark!  Hark! 
[Axel  and  his  wife  reenter  hastily ;  Axel 
rushes  toward  the  noise. 

Axel's  Wife 
Oh,  I  hear  something  !   Can  it  be  — 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

They  're  shouting. 


172  The    Piper 

Hans  the  Butcher 

My  Iambs,  —  my  lambs  ! 

[Axel  reenters,  crestfalien\ 

Axel  the  Smith 

'Tis  naught — but  Barbara! 
His — his! 

[Shaking  his  fist  at  the  house  of  Jacobus,'\ 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

\_calling\ 

Jacobus ! 
[The  others  are  stricken  with  disappoint- 
ment, 

Hans  the  Butcher 

Wife,  —  't  is  none  of  ours. 

Axel  the  Smith 

Let   him  snore  on !  —  The  only  man  would 

rather 
Sleep  late  than  meet  his  only  child  again ! 


The    Piper  173 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
[deprecatingly\ 

No  man  may  parley  with  the  gifts  of  Fortune ! 

\_Knocking  on  the  door] 
Jacobus ! 

\_Enter^  at  the  rear,  with  a  straggling  crowd, 
Barbara  and  Michael,  both  radiant  and 
resolute.  She  wears  the  long  green  cloak 
over  her  bridal  array. 

Jacobus  appears  in  his  doorway,  night- 
capped  and  fur-gowned,  shrinking  from 
the  hostile  crowd.  The  people  murmur. 


Crowd 

Barbara  !  —  She  that  was  bewitched! 
And  who's  the  man?  Is  it  the  Piper?  No! 
No,  no  —  some  stranger.   Barbara!  Barbara's 

home  ;  — 
^  He  never  gave  her  up  !  —  Who  is  the  man  ? 

Jacobus 

My  daughter!  'T  is  my  daughter, —  found  — 

restored ! 
Oh,  heaven  is  with  us! 


174  The    Piper 

All 

\juUenly~\ 

Ah! 


Jacobus 
Child,  where  have  you  been  ? 

All 

Ay,  where,  Jacobus? 

\He  is  dismayed.'\ 

Jacobus 
Who  is  this  man  ?  —  Come  hither. 

Barbara 

[without  approaching  him^  lifting  her  face  clearly] 

Good-morning  to  you,  father  !  We  are  wed. 
Michael,  —  shall  I  go  hither? 

[T^he  townsfolk  are  amaxed7\ 

Jacobus 

She  Is  mad ! 
She  is  quite  mad, —  my  treasure. 


The     Piper  175 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Let  her  speak. 
Maids  sometimes  marry,  even  in  Hamelin. 


All 
Ay,  tell  us! 
Who  is  he?   Barbara? 
.  Art  thou  mad? —  How  came  ye  hither? 


Jacobus 
Who  is  he? 

Barbara 

Michael. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

'T is  the  Sword-Eater! 
A  friend  o'  the  Piper's!  —  Hearken  — 

All 

She's  bewitched! 

Hans'  Wife 

This  is  the  girl  was  vowed  to  Holy  Church, 
For  us  and  for  our  children  that  are  lost! 


176  The    Piper 

Barbara 

Ay,  and  did  any  have  a  mind  to  me. 

When  I  was  lost  ?  Left  dancing,  and  distraught  ? 

All 

We  could  not.     We  were  spell-bound.    Nay, 
we  could  not. 

Jacobus 

[sagely^  after  the  others] 

We  could  not. 

Barbara 

So  !  —  But  there  was  one  who  could. 
There  was  one  man.  And  this  is  he. 
[Turning  to  Michael~\ 

And  I, 
I  am  no  more  your  Barbara, —  I  am  his. 
And  I  will  go  with  him,  over  the  world. 
I  come  to  say  farewell. 

Jacobus 

He  hath  bewitched  her! 


The    Piper  177 

Michael 

Why  did  we  ever  come  ?   Poor  darling  one, 
Thy  too-much  duty  hath  us  in  a  trap  I 

Axel  the  Smith 
No,  no !  —  Fair  play  ! 

Others 
Don't  let  them  go  !  We  have  them. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Hold  what  ye  have.  Be  't  children,  rats  or  mice  ! 
\Hubbub  without^  and  shouts.  Some  of  the 
burghers  hasten  out  after  this  fresh  excite- 
ment. Jacobus  is  cowed.  Barbara  and 
Michael  are  startled.  'The  shouts  turn 
savage.  The  uproar  grows.  Shouts  of 
*  Ay,  there  he  is!  We  have  him  I  We 
have  him  !  Help  —  help  !  Hold  fast  ( 
Ah!  Piper!  Piper!  Piper!' 

How  now?  What  all!  — 

[The  crowd  parts  to  admit  the  Piper,  haled 
hither  with  shouts  and  pelting,  by  Martin 
the  Watch  and  other  men,  all  breathless. 
His  eyes  burn. 


178  The    Piper 

Michael 

Save  us !  —  They  have  him. 

Martin 
[gaspingly] 

Help! 
Mark  ye  —  I  caught  him! —  Help, — and  hold 
him  fast! 

Piper 
I  came  here,  —  frog  ! 

Martin 

Ay,  he  were  coming  on ; 
And  after  him  a  squirrel,  hopping  close! 

Second  Man 

As  no  man  ever  saw  a  squirrel  hop  — 

Near  any  man  from  Hamelin  !  And  I  looked^ 

Martin 

And  it  was  he ;  and  all  we  rush  upon  him  — 
And  take  him ! 


The    Piper  179 

Piper 
Loose  thy  claws,  I  tell  thee  !  — 

All 

r  'Ware  ! 
Mercy  ! 
Let  him  go  ! 

Voice  from  Crowd 
I  have  the  squirrel ! 

Piper 

[savage/y'] 

Let  the  squirrel  go  ! 
Or  you  shall  rue  it.  —  Loose  him  !  He's  not 

mine. 
[//(?  sees  Barbara  and  Michael  for  the 
first    time  and   recoils   with   amazement. 
Barbara  steps  towards  him. 

Barbara 

Oh,  let  him  go,  —  let  be.   His  heart  is  clear. 
As  water  from  the  well ! 

\fthe  Piper  gazes  at  her,  open-mouthed.'] 


i8o  The    Piper 

All 


She  talks  in  her  sleep  ! 
The  maid  's  bewitched  ! 
.  Now,  will  ye  hear? 


Axel's  Wife 

He  piped  and  made  thee  dance  ! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

'T  was  he  bewitched  us  ! 

Barbara 
\serenely~\ 

Whatever  was,  —  it  was  for  love  of  me. 

Piper 

[thunderstruck^ 
So! 

Barbara 

He  piped;  —  and  all  ye  danced  and  fled  away! 
He  piped ;  —  and  brought  me  back  my  wander- 
ing wits, 
And  gave  me  safe  unto  my  Love  again, — 
My  Love  I  had  forgotten.   .   .   . 


The    Piper  i8i 

Piper 

So! 

Michael 

[wiih  conviction] 

Truly  said. 

Barbara 

l^proud/y'] 

Michael. 

Jacobus 

Who  is  he,  pray  ? 

Barbara 
My  own  true  love. 

Peter  the  Cobbler 

Now,  is  that  all  his  name  ? 

Barbara 
It  is  enough. 

Jacobus 
—  She  's  mad.  Shall  these  things  be? 


i82  The    Piper 

All 

The  Children  !  The  Children  ! 
"s  Where  are  the  Children  ? 
.Piper!  Piper!  Piper! 


Piper 

[sternly] 

Quiet  you.  And  hear  me. 
I  came  to  bring  good  tidings.   In  good  faith, 
Of  mine  own  will,  I  came.  —  And  like  a  thief 
You  haled  me  hither.  — 

[They  hang  upon  his  words'] 

.  .  .  Your  children  —  live. 

All 

Thank  God  !   I  knew,  I  knew  ! 
We  could  not  think  them  lost. 
Bewitched  !   Oh,  but  they  live  !  — 
Piper!— O  Piper! 

Peter  the  Cobbler 
They're  spell-bound,  —  mark  me! 


The    Piper  183 

Piper 

Ay,  they  are,  —  spell-bound  : 
Fast  bound  by  all  the  hardness  of  your  hearts; 
Caged,  —  in  the  iron  of  your  money-lust  — 


{ 


All 

No,  no,  not  all!   Not  I !  Not  mine,  not  mine! 
No,  no,  —  it  is  not  true. 

Piper 


Your  blasphemies,  —  your  cunning  and  your 
Fear. 

All 

No,  no  !  —  What  can  we  do  ? 
<  News,  Piper,  news! 
.Where  are  your  tidings.  Piper? 

Piper 

Now  hear  me.  You  did  make  Jacobus  swear 
To  give  his  child.  —  What  recks  it,  how  he  lose 

her?  — 
Either  to  Holy  Church  —  against  her  will!  — 
Or  to  this  man,  —  so  that  he  give  her  up! 


184  The    Piper 

He  swore  to  you.  And  she  hath  pledged  her 

faith. 
She  is  fast  wed.  —  Jacobus  shall  not  have  her. 
He  breaks  all  bargains  ;  and  for  such  as  he. 
You  suffer.  —  Will  you  bear  it  ? 

All 

No,  no,  no  ! 

Piper 

Then  she  who  was  "  Proud  Barbara  "  doth  wed 
Michael-the-Sword-Eater.  —  The  pledge  shall 

stand. 
Shall  it? 

All 

f  It  stands. 
I  Ay,  ay ! 

Piper 
Your  word ! 


{ 


All 

We  swear.  We  answer  for  him. 
So  much  for  Jacobus  ! 


The    Piper  185 

Axel  the  Smith 

An'  if  yon  fellow  like  an  honest  trade, 
I  '11  take  him  !  —  I  '11  make  swords  ! 
[Cheers.  Michael  is  happy. "] 

All 

Quick,  quick !  —  Our  children.  —  Piper !  —  Tell 

us  all ! 

Piper 

'T  is  well  begun.  —  Now  have  I  come  to  say  : 
There    is    one    child    I    may    bring    back    to 

you, — 
The  first. 

All 

[in  an  uproar^ 

"  Mine  — mine  !  Let  it  be  mine  ! 
Ours  !  —  All  of  them  !  Now  ! 
Mine  —  mine  — mine  !  —  mine  I 

Piper 
[unmoved'\ 

—  Oh,  Hamelin  to  the  end  1 


1 86  The    Piper 

Which  of  you  longed  the  most,  and  dared  the 

most? 
Which  of  you  — 

\_He  searches  the  crowd  anxiously  with  his 
eyes.'] 

All 

I!  I!  I! 

We  searched  the  hills  ! 
We  prayed  four  days  ! 
We  fasted  twenty  hours  — 
Mine!  Mine! 
^  Mine  —  mine  —  mine  —  mine  1 

Piper 

Not  yet.  —  They  all  do  live 
Under  a  spell,  —  deep  in  a  hollow  hill. 
They  sleep,  and  wake;   and   lead   a   charmed 

life. 
But  first  of  all,  — one  child  shall  come  again. 

[He  scans  the  crowd  still~\ 
Where  is  the  wife  —  of  Kurt,  the  Councillor? 

All 

[savagely] 

Noy  minCy  minCy  mine  ! 


The    Piper  187 

Martin's  Wife 

What,  that  lame  boy  of  hers? 

Piper 
Where  is  the  wife  of  Kurt  ? 

Peter  the  Cobbler  and  Others 

—  Veronika? 
The  foreign  woman  ?   She  is  lying  ill  : 
Sore-stricken  yonder  — 

\_Pointing  to  the  house.'] 

Piper 

Igladly] 

Bid  her  come,  look  out ! 
[The  crowd  moves  confusedly  towards  Kurt's 
house.   The  Piper  too  approaches^  calling] 
Ho,  —  ho,  within  there  ! 

[Anselm,  the  priest y  appears  in  the  doorway 
with  uplifted  hand^  commanding  silence. 
He  is  pale  and  stern.  At  sight  of  his  face 
the  ^iP^K  falters. 


Anselm 
Silence  here  !  —  Good  people, 


What  means  this  ? 


1 88  The     Piper 

Piper 

I  have  tidings  for  —  the  wife 
Of  Kurt  —  the  Councillor. 

Anselm 

You  are  too  late. 

Piper 
Bid  her  —  look  out ! 

Anselm 
\jolemnly\ 

Her  soul  is  passing,  now. 

\frhe  Piper  falls  back  stricken  and  speech- 
less.—  'The  crowdy  seeing  him  humanly 
overwhelmed^  grows  brave. 

Martin's  Wife 
*T  is  he  has  done  it ! 

Hans  the  Butcher 

—  Nay,  it  is  God's  will. 
Poor  soul ! 


The    Piper  189 

Peter  the  Sacristan 
\_fearfully] 

Don't  anger  him  !  'T  was  Kurt  the  Syndic 
With  his  bad  bargain. 

Axel  the  Smith 

Do  not  cross  the  Piper  ! 

Martin 

Nay,  but  he  's  spent.    He  's  nought  to  fear. — 

Look  there. 
Mark   how   he   breathes  !   Upon   him !   Help, 

help,  ho !  — 
Thou  piping  knave ! 

Others 

Tie  —  chain  him  !  —  Kill  him  !  —  Kill  him  ! 
[They  surround  him.  He  thrusts  them  off^ 

Peter  the  Cobbler  and  Others 

Bind  him,  but  do  not  kill  him  !  —  Oh,  be- 
ware! 
,  What  is  he  saying  ?  —  Peace. 


iQO  The    Piper 

Piper 

[brokenly] 

The  wife  of  Kurt ! 
Off!  what  can  you  do?  —  Oh  !  I  came,  I  came 
Here,  full  of  peace,  and  with  a  heart  of  love ;  — 
To  give  —  but  now  that  one  live  Soul  of  all 
Is  gone  !  —  No,  no  ! 

—  /  say  she  shall  not  die! 
She  shall  not ! 

Anselm 

Hush  !  —  She  is  in  the  hands  of  God. 
She  is  at  peace. 

Piper 

No,  never  !  Let  me  by  ! 
[Anselm  bars  the  threshold  and  steps  out.'] 

Anselm 

Thou  froward  fool!  ■ — Wouldst  rend  with  tears 

again 
That  shriven  breath?  And  drag  her  back  to 

sorrow  ? 
It  is  the  will  of  God. 


The    Piper  191 

Piper 
—  And  I  say  No ! 

Anselm 
Who  dare  dispute  — 

Piper 
I  dare  ! 

Anselm 

With  death  ?  —  With  God  ? 

Piper 

I  know  His  will,  for  once  !  She  shall  not  die. 
She  must  come  back,  and  live  !  —  Veronika  ! 
[He  calls  up  to  the  lighted  window.    The 
people  stand  aghast:  Anselm   bars  the 
threshold. 
I  come,  I  come!   1  bring  your  Own  to  you  I 
Listen,  Veronika ! 

\_He  feels  for  his  pipe.  It  is  gone.  —  His 
face  shows  dismay^  for  a  moment~\ 
Where?  — Where? 


192  The    Piper 

People 

He 's  lost  the  pipe.  —  He  's  hiding  it !  — 
He  cannot  pipe  them  back!  'tis  gone  —  'tis 

gone.  — 
.No,  'tis  to  save  his  life. —  It  is  for  time. 


Piper 

[/o  himself~\ 

—  'T  is  but  a  voice.  What  matter  ?  — 

Crowd 

J  Seize  him  — 
[  Bind  him  ! 

Piper 
\to  them\ 

Hush! 
\Passionately  he  stretches  his  arms  towards 
the  window. 

Anselm 
Peace,  for  this  parting  Soul  I 


The    Piper  193 

Piper 

\_with  fixed  eyes] 

It  shall  not  go. 
[To  the  PFindoisi] 
Veronika  !  —  Ah,  listen  !  —  wife  of  Kurt. 
He  comes  .  .  .  he  comes  I  Open  thine  eyes  a  moment  I 
Blow  the  faint  fire  within  thy  heart.  He  comes! 
Thy  longing   brings   him  ;  —  ay,  and  mine,  — 

and  mine  ! 
Heed  not  these  grave-makers,  Veronika. 
Live,  live,  and  laugh  once  more  !  —  Oh!  do  you 

hear  ? 
Look,  how  you  have  to  waken  all  these  dead, 
That  walk  about  you  !  —  Open  their  dim  eyes ; 
Sing  to  them  with  your  heart,  Veronika, 
As  I  am  piping,  far  away,  outside  ! 
Waken  them,  —  change  them  !  Show  them  how 

to  long, 
To  reach  their  arms  as  you  do,  for  the  stars, 
And  fold  them  in.   Stay  but  one  moment;  — 

stay. 
And  thine  own  Child  shall  draw  thee  back  again 
Down  here,  to  mother  him,  —  mother  us  all  ! 
Ohy  do  you  listen  ?  —  Do  not  try  to  answer,  — 
I  hear  !  —  I  hear.  .  .  . 


194  The    Piper 

[A  faint  sound  of  piping  comes  from  the  dis- 
tance.—  The  Piper  is  first  watchful,  then 
radiant.  —  The  burghers  are  awe-struck^ 
as  it  sounds  nearer. 


Barbara 

Listen !  — 

Michael 

His  very  tune. 
\The  ^ivEK  faces  front  with  fixed,  triumph- 
ant eyes  above  the  crowd. 

Martin's  Wife 

O  Lord,  have  mercy  !  — > 
The  Pipe  is  coming  to  him,  through  the  air! 

All 

*Tis  coming  to  the  Piper  ;  —  we  are  lost. — 
The  Pipe  is  coming,  coming  through  the  air ! 
\The  Piper,  with  a  sudden  gesture,  com- 
mands silence.  He  bounds  away  [centre^, 
and  disappears.    The  people,   spell-bound 
with  terror,  murmur  and  pray. 


The    Piper  195 

Anselm 

Retro  me,  Sathanas! 

[Kurt  the  Syndic  appears  on  the  threshold 
behind  Anselm,  whose  arm  he  touches , 
whispering.  —  Their  faces  are  wonder- 
struck  with  hope  and  awe. 

Hans  the  Butcher 
[  to  the  others,  pointing] 

'Tis  Kurt  the  Syndic. 

Axel  the  Smith 

Then  she  lives  !  — 

Hans'  Wife 

Look  there ! 
Others 
Look,  look !  The  casement  /  .  .  . 

[The  casement  of  the  lighted  window  opens 
wide  and  slowly.  —  Reenter  the  Piper 
with  Jan  in  his  arms.  The  little  boy  holds 
the  Pipe,  and  smiles  about  with  tranquil 
happiness.  The  Piper,  radiant  with  joy, 
lifts  him  high,  looking  toward  Veronika's 


196  The    Piper 

window.  —  The  awe-struck  people  point 
to  the  open  casement. 
Veronika's   two  white  hands  reach   out; 
then  she  herself  appears y  palcy  shining  with 
ecstasy. 

Jan 

*Tis  Mother  I 

[The  Piper  lifts  him  still  before  the  win- 
dow, gazing  up.  Then  he  springs  upon  the 
bench  [outside  the  lower  window)  and  gives 
Jan  into  the  arms  of  Veronika.  —  Kurt 
and  Anselm  bow  their  heads.  A  hush, 
—  Then  Jan  looks  down  from  the  win- 
dow-seat. 

Piper 
\to  him,  smiling  wisely\ 

And  all  the  others  ? 

Jan 

They  were  all  asleep. 

Piper 

I  '11  waken  them  ! 

\_He  takes  his  pipe.  —  An  uproar  of  joy 
among  the  burghers^ 


The    Piper  'i97 

Axel  the  Smith,  Hans  the  Butcher,  All 

r  Bring  lights,  —  bring  lights  ! 
\  Oh,  Piper  —  Oh,  my  lambs  ! 
L  The  children  !  —  The  children  ! 

[Some  rush  out  madly  ;  others  go  into  their 
houses  for  lights ;  some  are  left  on  their, 
knees,  weeping  for  joy. 

^he  Piper  sounds  a  few  notes;  then  lifts 
his  hand  and  listens,  smiling. —  Uproar  in 
the  distance.  —  A  great  barking  of  dogs  ; 

—  shouts  and  cheers ;  then  the  high,  sweet 
voices  of  the  Children. 

'The  piping  is  drowned  in  cries  of  joy.  The 
sun  comes  out,  still  rosy,  in  a  flood  of  light. 
The  crowd  rushes  in.  Fat  burghers  hug 
each  other,  and  laugh  and  cry.  They  are 
all  younger.  Their  faces  bloom,  as  by  a 
miracle. 

The  Children  pour  in.  Some  are  carried,  some 
run  hand-in-hand.  Everywhere  women 
embrace  their  own. —  Kurt  has  his  sons. 

—  Cheat-the-Devil  comes,  with  a  daisy 
chain  around  his  neck,  all  smiles. 

An  uproar  of  light  and  faces. 


198  The    Piper 

Hans  the  Butcher. 
The  treasure  for  the  Piper ! 

All 

Ay,  ay,  Piper ! 

Hans  the  Butcher 
The  thousand  guilders ! 

Piper 

Give  them  Michael  there, 
For  all  us  three.   I  hate  to  carry  things ;  — 
Saving  out  one ! 

\He  waves  his  hand  to  Jan  in  the  window. 
—  Veronika  appears  behind  him^  shin- 
ing with  new  life.  Jan  leans  out  and  points 
to  the  ground. 

Heja  !  What  now  ?  — 

\Picking  up  one  ^t/* Jan's  winged  shoes^ 

Hans'  Wife 

Look  !  Look  !  — 
And  wings  upon  it !  Mercy,  what  a  shoe.  — 
Don't  give  it  back. — The  child  will  fly  away ! 


The    Piper  199 

Piper 

No,  no  ! 

\_Looking  up  at  the  window  soothingly.~\ 
He  only  wanted  one  to  show  — 

Jan 

To  Mother  !  —  See. 

[Showing  her  his  other  foot ^joyously^ 

Piper 

[to  hini\ 

And  this,  —  wilt  leave  it  here  ? 
Here  —  with  — 

Jan 

The  Lonely  Man  !  Oh,  make  Him  smile  ! 

['The  Piper  crosses  to  the  Shrine^  with  the 
little  shoe,  and  hangs  it  up  there ;  then  he 
turns  towards  the  window^  waving  his 
hand. 

Children 

Where  are  you  going?  .  .  . 

[They  run  and  cling."] 


200  The    Piper 

Piper 

Ah,  the  high-road  now! 

Children 
Oh!  why? 

Piper 

I  have  to  find  somebody  there. 
Yes,  now  and  every  day,  and  everywhere 
The  wide  world  over.  —  So:  good-night,  good- 
morning, 
Good-by  !  There  *s  so  much  piping  left  to  do,  — 
I  must  be  off,  and  pipe. 

Children 

Oh!  why? 

Piper 

I  promised, 
Look  you !  .  .  . 

Children 

Who  is  it  ? 


The    Piper 
Piper 


20I 


Why, —  the  Lonely  Man. 

\_He  waves  them  farewell^  and  goes.  'The 
Children  dance  and  laugh  and  sparkle. 
Through  the  hundred  sounds  of  joy  ^  there 
comes  a  far-off  piping. 

The  End 


14  DAY  USF 

^  _^      LOAN  DEPT 

This  book  is  due  on  ,h.  l,.,  H., 


REC'D  LD 

3£;'  2    i>3i 


.General  LibraxT 


Berkeley 


ifornia 


